April 1, 2015

“You Will Not Always Have Me”

The betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot, one of his chosen Twelve, is highlighted in the Gospel reading for Wednesday of Holy Week.

At a dinner at the home of Lazarus whom Jesus raised from the dead, Mary “took a pound of costly perfume made from genuine nard and anointed the feet of Jesus, wiping them with her hair. And the whole house was filled with the fragrance from the perfume. Judas, son of Simon Iscariot — he disciple who was to betray Jesus—remarked, ‘This perfume could have been sold for three hundred silver coins, and turned over to the poor.’ Judas indeed had no concern for the poor; he was a thief and as he held the common purse, he used to help himself to the funds. But Jesus spoke up, ‘Leave her alone. Was she not keeping it for my burial? (The poor you always have with you, but you will not always have me.)’” (Jn 12: 3 – 8)

At the arrest of Jesus, in Luke’s account, Jesus asks Judas, “Did you need this kiss to betray the Son of Man?” In Matthew’s account, Jesus tells Judas, “Friend, do what you came for.”

“When Judas, the traitor, realized that Jesus had been condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, ‘I have sinned by betraying an innocent man to death.’ ”

He felt remorse but did not seek mercy and pardon from Jesus: in despair “he went away and hanged himself.” (Mt 27: 3 – 5)

Judas’ betrayal, despair and suicide are in sharp contrast to Peter’s betrayal of Jesus as he had predicted at the Last Supper, “Truly, I tell you, the cock will not crow before you have denied me three times.” After Peter’s denials, “The Lord turned around and looked at Peter and he remembered the word that the Lord had spoken. . . . Peter went outside, weeping bitterly.” (Lk 22: 61 – 62)

And after the resurrection, Peter professed his love for the Lord, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” And the Lord gave Peter the charge of his Church, “Feed my sheep. . . Follow me.”

One Bread, One Body

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All Issues > Volume 31, Issue 3

<< Wednesday, April 1, 2015 >>

Holy Week

Isaiah 50:4-9
View Readings

Psalm 69:8-10, 21-22, 31, 33-34

Matthew 26:14-25
Similar Reflections

WHEN JESUS IS NOT LORD OF YOUR LIFE

"Surely it is not I, Rabbi?" —Matthew 26:25

Notice that, in Matthew's account of the Passion, Judas addressed Jesus merely as "Rabbi," not as Lord (Mt 26:25; see also Mt 26:49). The other disciples all addressed Jesus as "Lord" (Mt 26:22). Calling Jesus "Rabbi," that is, "Teacher" (see Jn 1:38), gives evidence that Judas had already stopped recognizing Jesus as his Lord and Master. Since no man can have two masters (Mt 6:24), Judas now had a different master than Jesus; he transferred his loyalty to the Jewish chief priests (see Mt 26:14ff). How tragically sad!

Judas betrayed Jesus so smoothly that even the other eleven apostles, who were so quick to compare themselves to each other (see Mt 20:24; Mk 9:34; Lk 9:46; 22:24), didn't even suspect Judas. None of the other disciples said, "Lord, is it Judas?" Instead they all asked Jesus if they themselves had betrayed Him (Mt 26:22). Judas successfully hid his betrayal from his closest associates, but the Lord knew differently.

Judas shows that it is possible to fool even the pillars of the Church into thinking we are great servants of Jesus. We can even fool ourselves into thinking we have given our lives to Jesus. However, we can't fool the Lord. We must give Jesus every aspect of our lives to truly call Him our Lord. As Fr. Al Lauer, founder and long-time author of One Bread, One Body, often proclaimed: "If Jesus is not Lord of all, then He is not Lord at all in your life." Ask Jesus to show you any area of your life that still needs to be subject to Him. Give Jesus your all, and make Him your Lord.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, nail me to Your cross with You, so that I might never leave You in difficult times.

Promise: "Morning after morning He opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back." —Is 50:4-5

Praise: Slowly, with much prayer, John earned the respect of his co-workers, and their vulgar speech diminished in the workplace.