LEARN TO LIVE, LIVE TO LEARN
“To know much and taste nothing-of what use is that?” ―St. Bonaventure of Bagnoregio
"Hey Kuya Jeff, I wanted to express my gratitude for your inspiring Palm Sunday reflection. Your discussion about Judas being responsible for his choices got me thinking. Can Judas truly be held accountable for betraying our Lord if it was predestined in the Scriptures? Wouldn't it be unfair of God to designate Judas as a traitor? Is there not a possibility of Judas finding salvation, especially considering his repentance and the act of returning the blood money, as mentioned in Matthew 27:3-5? I hope you'll have a moment to address my inquiry. Your reflections greatly enrich my prayer time each week. Keep up the excellent writing, and may you be blessed with more inspiration." - Hey Jude 1.) During the era of Jesus, the name Judas was quite common and honorable, likely due to the esteemed Jewish figure Judas Maccabeus. Surprisingly, three out of the twelve apostles shared this name: Judas Thomas, also known as the twin, Judas Thaddeus, who authored an Epistle and was James' brother, and Judas Iscariot, infamous for betraying Jesus. Although Iscariot was one of the twelve followers selected by Jesus to represent him as his agents, he is remembered preeminently as the disciple who betrayed Jesus. Presently, due to the negative association with Judas Iscariot's betrayal, the name has lost its appeal. It's improbable to find anyone named "Judas" in the Philippines, across all age groups, as the name has become synonymous with betrayal, making the name burdensome to carry. 2.) Betrayal is a deeply painful experience, as most of us have encountered the anguish and aftermath of being betrayed by someone close to us. Jesus had chosen Judas to be one of his apostles, not as his betrayer. Judas was considered among Jesus' inner circle of friends, yet his betrayal unfolded gradually. His initial actions, such as stealing from the communal funds, indicated a pattern of dishonesty that eventually led to betraying Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Small acts of dishonesty, if left unchecked, can escalate, as was the case with Judas. He willingly put himself in a position where Satan could influence him, yet he had the ability to resist. Instead, he gave in and thus was responsible for his own actions. Ultimately, Judas may have confessed his wrongdoing because he feared facing punishment as a false witness against Jesus, as prescribed in Deuteronomy 19:16–19. According to this provision, he could have faced crucifixion himself suffering the same penalty he brought upon the falsely convicted. However, Judas's confession wasn't driven by genuine repentance but rather by self-preservation. Instead of seeking forgiveness from Jesus and trusting in his redemptive sacrifice, Judas's twisted mindset might have led him to believe that his death could somehow atone for his sin. These suggest that Judas remained unrepentant as a thief, traitor, and ultimately, a self-murderer. 3.) Are remorse and repentance synonymous? Many confuse these terms, but upon closer examination, they diverge significantly. Remorse (metamelomai) entails being engulfed in sorrow, leading to feelings of sadness, depression, and hopelessness, yet resulting in no change. It can also express the guilt a person feels because he knows that he has done wrong, that he will continue to do wrong, and that he has no plans to change his course of action. In contrast, repentance (metanoia) involves sorrow that prompts a change in behavior, transitioning from bondage to sin to freedom. Though repentance may involve temporary pain, it marks a shift towards a life without sin. While repentance leads to transformation, remorse merely induces sorrow, often mistaken for repentance. Paul highlights this distinction in 2 Corinthians 7:10, stating that: "For godly sorrow produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly sorrow produces death." 4.) To highlight the disparity between remorse and repentance, let's examine the experiences of Peter and Judas. Initially, Peter denied knowing Jesus: "I do not know the man (Matthew 26:69-75)," while Judas betrayed him: "The one I kiss, he is the man. Arrest him (Matthew 26:48-50)." Their subsequent actions are particularly intriguing. As Jesus headed towards the cross, Peter denied him thrice. However, after the resurrection in John’s Gospel (21:15-19), we witness Peter's reaction when confronted by Jesus. Despite denying Jesus three times, Peter passionately declares his love and commits to following him. This stands in stark contrast to Judas's story. According to Matthew 27:3, Judas, like Peter, regretted his actions, returning the thirty pieces of silver feeling remorse for his sin. Yet, unlike Peter, Judas couldn't bring himself to seek forgiveness. His pride, ego, and shame prevented him from returning to Jesus. Perhaps he couldn't forgive himself. Eventually, Judas' despair led to his tragic end. In contrast, Peter's heartfelt repentance led to forgiveness and a significant role in Jesus' ministry. While both regretted their actions, Peter repented while Judas only felt remorse. Peter was not only forgiven, but he was commissioned to be the first Pope and he spent the rest of his life doing just that. He eventually gave his life in service to his Lord. Judas was more sorrowful for himself than he was for his participation in Jesus' betrayal. This wasn't a demonstration of repentance that leads to salvation, but of sorrow, guilt, and a deep-seated remorse that ultimately led to death. Judas had lavished so much love for himself, and refused God's mercy. His despair offended Jesus and was a way bigger insult to him than his betrayal had been. 5.) Where is Judas today? As a flawed and mortal individual, myself, I lack the authority to either canonize or condemn anyone. However, by turning to the Scriptures and drawing upon the wisdom of Saints and Doctors of the Church, you might glean some understanding regarding Judas's ultimate destiny. St. Peter, the first Pope, argues that Judas by his transgression, fell away from the apostleship forever. In Acts 1:25, Peter spoke of Judas who left his apostolic ministry "to go where he belongs." Literally, the verse reads "to go to his own place." If you find this harsh, consider the words of Jesus in Matthew 26:24 when he said: "It would be far better for him if he had never been born!" St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church, reflects on Judas's missed chance for repentance, lamenting how the devil deprived him of this opportunity: "The devil led him out of his repentance too soon, so that he should reap no fruit from thence ... For this reason also the wicked one dragged Judas out of this world lest he should make a fair beginning, and so return by means of repentance to the point from which he fell." St. Augustine of Hippo, Doctor of the Church, observes that Judas's taking his own life worsened rather than atoned for his betrayal: "[Judas], by hanging himself he rather aggravated than expiated the guilt of that most iniquitous betrayal, since, by despairing of God’s mercy in his sorrow that wrought death, he left to himself no place for a healing penitence? For Judas, when he killed himself, killed a wicked man, and passed from this life chargeable not only with the death of Christ, but also with his own: for though he killed himself on account of his crime, his killing himself was another crime." St. Thomas of Aquinas, Doctor of the Church, along with St. Anselm and St. Dionysius, underscores that Judas's actions signify a rejection of God's grace: "Now, in the case of Judas, the abuse of grace was the reason for his condemnation, since he was made wretched because he died without grace. Moreover, the fact that he did not have grace when he died was not due to God’s unwillingness to give it but to his unwillingness to accept it—as both Anselm and Dionysius point out." Where is Judas today? Ultimately, Judas is in a place reserved for the unrepentant, where he rightfully belongs—a place for thieves, traitors, and murderers. 6.) God desires our repentance over our remorse. Every sinner, at least every grave sinner, like you and me, is a Judas, one who has betrayed the Lord. Contrition, a good confession, and a penance imposed by the priest and well performed will be our best offering at this holy time. The absolution of the priest will do for us far more than we can desire or hope for. Let us hope for all, and cling to the means of grace, and then we will be better fit for the glory of heaven and the resurrection. As French Catholic novelist Leon Bloy wrote, "The only real sadness, the only real failure, the only great tragedy in life, is not to become a saint." The greatest tragedy in the life of Judas was that he could have been St. Judas Iscariot. <enrique,ofs>
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About JeffJeff Jacinto, PhD, DHum Archives
July 2024
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