Living with Betrayal
"What are you willing to give me?" was the question Judas asked the chief priests if he were to hand Jesus over to them (Mt. 26:15). I wonder how that encounter played out. What was going through Judas' mind? What was he feeling? Why did he even go to chief priests? How did he feel when he was given the 30 pieces of silver? As for the chief priests - what were they feeling? Did they feel excited? Relieved? Did they have a meeting after Judas left with the money?
With 30 pieces of silver Judas betrayed Jesus. With his very own person Jesus redeemed all man. Jesus knew that Judas had betrayed Him, and that he was going to hand Him over when the appointed time had come, yet Jesus never acted coldly towards him. "When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve" (Mt. 26:20). Jesus still loved Judas and counted him among His family. To share a meal and to break bread together is something that family and good friends do together. Jesus shared this final meal and broke this saving bread together with the Twelve, including His betrayer, Judas. Jesus loved His betrayer because he too was created in the image and likeness of God and was a beloved son of His Father. But Jesus must have felt so hurt that His friend betrayed Him. However, at the same time, Jesus must have been comforted and consoled to know that this was all for the greater glory of the Father.
Have you ever been betrayed or felt betrayed by a trusted friend or family member? We are told that it is usually those who are closest to you and who you love the most that hurts you the most. Judas was among "The Twelve," the closest companions of Jesus, and he sold Him out to the chief priests. How have we responded and reacted during the times when we have felt betrayed? Did we shut that person out of our lives? Did we withhold forgiveness? Did we shame them? Did we give them the silent treatment? Did we act coldly or nonchalantly or even unkindly towards them? It is so tempting to do all those things because somehow it makes us "feel better." Maybe it does because by doing so we feel more in control - I won't let that happen again.... However, we are called to love them. Just as Jesus "reclined at table" with Judas, we must do our best to love all those in our lives, especially those who have hurt us. To be hurt means to have been loved. If that person did not really mean much to you, whatever they did would not have caused you that much pain. Hold fast to that love, and let that, rather than the pain to influence your thoughts and actions. Remember that love and always choose that over anything else. To choose that love is to choose God for God is love. Choose love, choose God. Choose to love, choose to embrace your truest identity - beloved of the Father.
When we face the temptation to give up on love, remember the question of Judas to the chief priests, "What are you willing to give me?" and imagine what Jesus' answer would be if we were to ask him what He will give to us: "Myself. My life. My love. I give myself up for you."
Let us ask the Father for the grace to choose to love, especially in the midst of hurt and pain. Let us also ask for forgiveness for the times we have caused others hurt and pain.
With 30 pieces of silver Judas betrayed Jesus. With his very own person Jesus redeemed all man. Jesus knew that Judas had betrayed Him, and that he was going to hand Him over when the appointed time had come, yet Jesus never acted coldly towards him. "When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve" (Mt. 26:20). Jesus still loved Judas and counted him among His family. To share a meal and to break bread together is something that family and good friends do together. Jesus shared this final meal and broke this saving bread together with the Twelve, including His betrayer, Judas. Jesus loved His betrayer because he too was created in the image and likeness of God and was a beloved son of His Father. But Jesus must have felt so hurt that His friend betrayed Him. However, at the same time, Jesus must have been comforted and consoled to know that this was all for the greater glory of the Father.
Have you ever been betrayed or felt betrayed by a trusted friend or family member? We are told that it is usually those who are closest to you and who you love the most that hurts you the most. Judas was among "The Twelve," the closest companions of Jesus, and he sold Him out to the chief priests. How have we responded and reacted during the times when we have felt betrayed? Did we shut that person out of our lives? Did we withhold forgiveness? Did we shame them? Did we give them the silent treatment? Did we act coldly or nonchalantly or even unkindly towards them? It is so tempting to do all those things because somehow it makes us "feel better." Maybe it does because by doing so we feel more in control - I won't let that happen again.... However, we are called to love them. Just as Jesus "reclined at table" with Judas, we must do our best to love all those in our lives, especially those who have hurt us. To be hurt means to have been loved. If that person did not really mean much to you, whatever they did would not have caused you that much pain. Hold fast to that love, and let that, rather than the pain to influence your thoughts and actions. Remember that love and always choose that over anything else. To choose that love is to choose God for God is love. Choose love, choose God. Choose to love, choose to embrace your truest identity - beloved of the Father.
When we face the temptation to give up on love, remember the question of Judas to the chief priests, "What are you willing to give me?" and imagine what Jesus' answer would be if we were to ask him what He will give to us: "Myself. My life. My love. I give myself up for you."
Let us ask the Father for the grace to choose to love, especially in the midst of hurt and pain. Let us also ask for forgiveness for the times we have caused others hurt and pain.
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