Judas of Iscariot, one of the twelve, always looms large in the face of every Christian. His willingness to betray Jesus at the mere wage of 30 pieces of silver strikes to the core of every human heart that seeks to follow Christ.
The reality remains that Judas was chosen by Jesus. Judas was on the inside, one of the chosen ones, who was in intimate proximity to Jesus on a daily basis. Yet, he succumbed to temptation, as St. John tells us in the gospel, the devil put it in his heart to betray Jesus.
The image of Judas reminds each of us the potential the human heart presents to the world, the potential to be perverted, the potential to be unfaithful, the potential to give in to temptation even when we think we are close to Christ.
This is why we must build a daily communion with Christ. Only on a daily basis do we choose to be on the side of Christ, and thus seek to purify our heart with the saving words of Christ.
Yet what the gospel reveals most truthfully about Judas isn't what he does or how he fails, but rather what Jesus does to Judas.
After Judas plans the betrayal he must execute it in the garden. When he approaches Jesus in the garden to give him the kiss of betrayal, Jesus addresses him with the word, "Friend."
Here in lies the truth of the gospel, the strength of grace, the reality of mercy. Though our hearts might be perverted, though we might be unfaithful, though we might deny Christ time and time again, Jesus remains faithful, Jesus' heart remains unperverted. His heart remains pure and reaches out to us in fidelity regardless of what we do or how we fail.
Just as Jesus calls Judas "Friend" so to does he address us as "Friend". This is the hope of Holy Week. Jesus' heart remains filled with mercy and love towards us; this is especially revealed in the Easter Tridiuum.
On Holy Thursday, Jesus stoops on his knees and washes our feet and we become friends; on Good Friday, Jesus exposes his heart for the world to see as he embraces the cross, his side is pierced and love pours forth; he remains faithful to us as friends. On Easter Vigil, we celebrate the power of love which is stronger than death, the bond of friendship reaches beyond the grave and brings new life to all.
In deed despite the wretched reality of the human heart that is always a potential rebel; the human heart of Jesus remains a sign of hope, for the purity of friendship can never be sullied by our flaws it can only be embraced as a gift for all, take and eat this is my body given for you, take and drink this is the blood shed for the all.
Friends we remain in Him.
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