Homily for the Fifth Sunday in Easter, Year C

                                                      

A Priceless Lesson From Judas Iscariot 

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Fifth Sunday in Easter, Year C

St. Bridget Catholic Church, Minneapolis, MN

Sunday, May 15, 2022

How do we honor the Apostles of Jesus Christ? By living as they lived, i.e. imitating them! How else do we honor them? In our Church liturgical calendar, certain days are set aside for feasting in honor of the Apostles of Jesus Christ. We honor them by crafting their images into stained-glass windows of churches and cathedrals, and by placing inside our churches their statues on significant spots. More to it, around the globe, particular churches, dioceses, towns, cities, offices and other important places are named after them. At baptism and confirmation, parents give their children names of the Apostles. And among the choice of names chosen by adults who got converted to Christianity, the names of the Apostles are always on the high list. But one name that is never honored in anyway is Judas Iscariot, even though he was one of the men chosen by our Lord Jesus Christ. Why is he being left out? The opening phrase of our today’s Gospel reading says, “When Judas had left them…” Who is Judas Iscariot? Is there anything to be learned from his life and experience? 

The mere mention of the name of Judas among Christians raises immediate reaction of condemnation and criticism. To the question of who Judas Iscariot is, the authors of the Gospels call him, “one of the twelve,” (Mt. 26:14; Mk 14:10; Jn. 6:71) or “of the number of the twelve” (Lk 22:3). Jesus precisely identifies him as he was speaking to his Apostles as “one of you” (Mt. 26:21). After the death and Resurrection of Jesus, Peter describes Judas as “he was numbered among us and allotted his share in this ministry” (Acts. 1:17). So, Judas is a member of the group that Jesus chose as companions and collaborators. Before he exchanged his friendship with Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, he was the administrator of the group (Jn. 12:6b), and also a “thief” (Jn. 12:6a). 

Why does Judas Iscariot betray Jesus? Some say his greed for money led him to betray the Lord. Others say he was disappointed upon realizing that Jesus did not fit the program of the political-military liberation of his country. But John says that “the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him” (Jn. 13:2). Luke clearly says, “Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve” (Lk 22:3). Whether it is greed or disappointment or Satan that triggered Judas to betray his Master, the fact remains that Jesus treated him as a friend and invited him to follow him along the way of happiness. Judas’ betrayal of the Lord remains a mystery. His eternal destiny and fate is even a greater mystery. We know he repented of his actions, brought back the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders and said, “I have sinned in betraying innocent blood” (Mt. 27:3-4). Even though he went out to hang himself (Mt. 27:5), it is not up to us to judge his action. Judging him would mean putting ourselves in the place of God who is infinitely merciful and just.

Now the first lesson to learn from the life of Judas Iscariot is that the perversion of the human heart, moral collapse, spiritual and religious disintegration is quite possible. No matter how close you are to the Lord today, you could easily become a candidate of perdition. It is not over until it is over. The crown of glory is not won until your soul is finally at rest in the hands of Jesus. So, do not take your salvation for granted. St. Paul urges us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. We are tempted everyday by the flesh, by the world, by earthly power, vain glory and honor, by sensual pleasure and material wealth. If we are not careful, we could be floored. Look at Judas! How much closer can anyone get? Despite the fact that he ate and dinned with Jesus, despite the fact that he was privileged to hear the voice of the historical Jesus and experienced virtually everything we read from the Gospels, he still suffered a relapse. 

How do we prevent the Judasian perversion? Pope Benedict XVI says “The only way to prevent it consists in not cultivating an individualistic, autonomous vision of things, but on the contrary, by putting oneself always on the side of Jesus, assuming his point of view. We must daily seek to build full communion with him.” Simply put, eschew the ideology of “I alone can fix things.” If you are strong, don’t depend totally on it. If you have power, wealth and enjoy the esteem of others, do not rely on it. If many things in life are working out for you and you are doing well in life, do not base your salvation on them. If you have the right connection, know the right people, and can get things done, do not depend on any of those. If you feel economically and environmentally safe, don’t count on any of them. Depend on Jesus solely. Our salvation comes from him. When you say to Jesus in words and deeds, “I do not know the man,” remember Peter. Emulate Peter! Both Peter and Judas betrayed our Lord Jesus Christ. Both of them fell. And both of them came to their senses and repented. But here is the difference: after his fall Peter repented “and found forgiveness and grace.” As for Judas, even though he repented his repentance degenerated into despair and ultimately led him to self-destruction. It is not okay to betray anyone let alone our God. To deny and betray Jesus is a great sin, but to limit his power to forgive and show mercy is even a greater sin. The God of mercy and compassion is never tired of showing mercy. If you are tired of asking for his mercy, then become tired of committing sin. St. Benedict urges us to, “Never despair of God’s mercy.” Pope Francis says, “God never tires of forgiving us, but we sometimes tire of asking Him to forgive us.” If you leave Jesus and his Church as Judas did, the Lord will respect your freedom to leave. But be rest assured that Jesus will be waiting for you to have a change of mind and heart (metanoia) and to return to him and to his Church. The Lord is good! He is kind! He is exceedingly merciful!