Replies

Regnum Christi

The Conspirator Revealed
April 12, 2006

Judas had everything he needed to be a great apostle. So what happened to him?

Wednesday of Holy Week
Father James Swanson, LC

Matthew 26:14-25
One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over. On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?" He said, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ´The teacher says, "My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples."´" The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover. When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, "Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me." Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, "Surely it is not I, Lord?" He said in reply, "He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born." Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?" He answered, "You have said so."

Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to meditate on the betrayal of Judas. If one of your disciples, chosen for his greatness of heart, could betray you, then anyone can betray you, especially me. Help me not to be so confident in my own fidelity, but place it in your hands. Help me to be faithful and true.

Petition: Lord Jesus, in spite of my errors, may I experience love and emulate your forgiving way of dealing with Judas.

1. One of You Will Betray Me. We often think that Judas must have been different, obviously worse than the other disciples. If that were true, everyone would have suspected him when Jesus said, “One of you will betray me.” They would have thought: “It must be Judas. He’s always been bad. He’s capable of betraying Jesus. I don’t know why Jesus picked him.” Instead, Judas did not stand out as any worse than they were. If he did, they would have immediately suspected him.

2. Is It I? Instead, the apostles are all asking, “Is it I?” Why? Was there some widespread desire to betray him of which they were barely keeping control? No, but they were in a very dangerous situation. The Pharisees had decided to kill Jesus. The apostles know it. That’s why the whole group had gone to stay in Jericho for awhile. Jerusalem was too dangerous. They can imagine themselves following Jesus to the Temple the next day…. Suddenly, someone grabs them, pulls them into an alley, puts a knife to their throat and demands, “Tell me where I can find Jesus tonight!” They wonder what they would say. With my life on the line would I betray Jesus? This is why they ask, “Is it I?”

3. Surely It Is Not I? Judas had everything he needed to be a great apostle. He had a magnanimous heart, which is why Jesus picked him. God never destines anyone for failure. So what happened to him? At some point he stopped working on his friendship with Jesus. It seems to have been after the discourse on the Bread of Life recorded in John 6. Judas couldn’t accept that he needed to eat Jesus’ body and drink his blood. Jesus must be wrong, and therefore he is a false Messiah. John 6:64 can be taken to mean that this was the first moment that Jesus knew who his betrayer would be. Jesus gives Judas a chance to leave the group and remain an honest man in John 6:67. Instead, he stays, becoming a hypocrite – a “devil” in Jesus’ words – and begins the path that will lead to betrayal.

Dialogue with Christ: Lord, if one of your hand-picked disciples can betray you after having lived with you for three years, seen your miracles and been instructed by you, then anyone can betray you. I have betrayed you so many times: when I don’t want others to know I am your follower, when I listen to attacks on you and your Church without saying anything, even when I do such a simple thing as not saying grace in a restaurant out of fear that others will realize I am a Catholic. May the experience of your Passion and death help me to have the courage of my convictions.

Resolution: Today I will live all the demands of my faith, especially in the moments when they point me out as a follower of Christ. Today I will not betray him, even in the smallest way.