Friday, January 19, 2018

Homily for 19 Jan 2018

19 Jan 2018

There are a number of theories out there as to why Judas betrayed Jesus.  One of them is that Judas handed Jesus over in the hopes that Jesus would resist arrest; that he would fight back, and start a new revolt against the Romans. 

If that’s the case, then Judas’ betrayal wasn’t that he handed Jesus over to be arrested; it’s that he tried to use Jesus for his own purposes…instead of letting Jesus use him for God’s purposes.  It’s an interesting theory, and it has some merit. 

When Jesus chose Judas, along with the other Eleven, did he know Judas would be betray him?  I don’t know.  Most likely, any of them could’ve betrayed Jesus—they were all sinners, more or less.  They all had their own life ambitions, their own thoughts about how the world should be, their own ideas regarding the political situation at the time.  Any one of them could’ve seen Jesus as the perfect person to advance their own causes and ideas.  But only Judas did it.

Of course, Jesus is still betrayed today.  He’s either a poster child or a spokesman for a number of political and social causes—none of which have to do with what God’s agenda is.  Jesus is still betrayed today; he’s still used as a pawn, even today.

We pray that the minds and hearts of people will see Jesus for who he is; that they will let themselves be “used” by God, so that God’s Will will be done, and our own desires and agendas can take second place.  And, of course, may we be examples of that, by being faithful, humble, and joyful disciples of the Lord.  

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