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| The Taking of Christ by Caravaggio, c. 1602 |
The mystery of Judas is very deep. Over the years many people have tried to expound on what happened with this iconic betrayer. The 1971 Rock Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, is another modern example which gets Judas wrong. Some people mistakenly think that poor Judas was doomed by fate and had no choice - a mere pawn.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church offers an important clarification of the issue:
"Jesus' violent death was not the result of chance in an unfortunate coincidence of circumstances, but is part of the mystery of God's plan, as St. Peter explains to the Jews of Jerusalem in his first sermon on Pentecost: 'This Jesus [was] delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God.'
This Biblical language does not mean that those who handed him over were merely passive players in a scenario written in advance by God. To God, all moments of time are present in their immediacy. When therefore he establishes his eternal plan of 'predestination', he includes in it each person's free response to his grace:
'In this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.' For the sake of accomplishing his plan of salvation, God permitted the acts that flowed from their blindness" (## 599, 600).
Seen in this light, there might be a deeper meaning to Judas. Could it be that our merciful Jesus was doing everything possible to win Judas back even before the betrayal? At the Last Supper Jesus mentioned the betrayal out loud. He also performed an affectionate gesture of offering a hand dipped morsel to Judas. This might have been Jesus reaching out to Judas, inviting him to rethink the satanic plans of his heart.
Judas and Peter both betray Jesus. Both Judas and Peter were remorseful for their betrayal. Peter's humble repentance leads to mercy and forgiveness. Judas' prideful remorse seems to lead to despair. Like Judas and Peter, we all betray Jesus every time we sin. Let us pray for the grace of true contrition for our sins, a contrition which leads to mercy and forgiveness!
Have a blessed Holy Triduum,
Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR
St. Joseph Friary, New York, New York
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One interesting aspect about Judas is that he was not a willfully malevolent man intent on bringing about the demise of Christ, but wanted Jesus to liberate the Jews from Roman subjugation and start a new social order as the Messiah.
ReplyDeleteJudas can be associated with the phrase: "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." Just as Christ said, "Get behind me satan." when Peter with good intentions did not want Our Lord to endure the passion and death, Judas also did not fathom the will of the Eternal Father to offer His only begotten Son as a propitiation for our sins - the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Everyday, we see well intentioned people aspire to various causes with a strong conviction of righteousness. Yet, as God is ultimately the only basis of truth, Christ is the only model of true righteousness. Well intentioned choices that are not at the center of Christ's will are termed "the Judas Complex" by the late Fr. Malachi Martin. This reminds us to be aware of the mysterium iniquitatus and always endeavor with all our heart to put Christ first in our lives.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, make our hearts like unto thine!