Skip to main content
Have you ever been so angry with someone that it consumed your every waking thought? In fact, it may have even driven you while you slept. I mean the kind of anger that is not quickly quelled? This usually occurs when someone does something to you that you consider to be unfair or unwarranted. It has certainly happened to me. You are left feeling vulnerable and puzzled by the action taken by someone you probably trusted. It is not a healthy situation and really can begin to cause you physical damage. It reminds me of the situation that Jesus was in when his friend and confidant Judas turned on him. Contemporary study reveals that Jesus may have chosen Judas for this task. We certainly know that it had to happen in order for Jesus to be crucified which in turn released us from original sin. This despicable act by Judas allows us to live eternal life with God in Heaven. Returning to the original point of this message, I began to wonder if Judas was forgiven. The answer is a resounding yes. We know that our God is a forgiving Father who is always ready for us to return to His loving embrace. Jesus has told us personally that we are to forgive those who trespass against us. Jesus, the ultimate perfection, would never have held a grudge. I can only imagine that Jesus may have forgiven Judas even at the instance that He was betrayed. Of course, the Bible does not tell us this. The apostles were still neophytes when it came to theology and faith development. Even after spending all of their days living with Jesus, they were quickly filled with fear and doubt. It would have been difficult for them to grasp this concept that quickly. With time and study, a luxury they did not have, we are able to discern that Jesus had to have forgiven Judas. It just makes sense. So what does that say about our holding on to grudges? How can we even begin to compare what has happened to us with what happened to Jesus? We also know that holding onto hate and anger only really causes us pain and separation. We are not living our lives in harmony with God. It is imperative that we forgive and forget and let this anger go. In the end, we benefit most and ultimately we grow from the experience.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Praying With The Five Wounds Of Jesus

I am just beginning to dive into the beautiful, ancient devotion to the Five Wounds of Jesus, and I wanted to share a bit of the journey with you. It can feel a little overwhelming at first to look at the Crucifix this closely, but I’ve found such a gentle guide in St. Bernard of Clairvaux . In his Jubilee Rhythm on the Passion, Bernard doesn't treat the wounds of Jesus as distant historical facts or sights to be avoided. Instead, he approaches them with the tenderness of a friend, speaking directly to the feet, hands, side, and face of our Lord. For someone like me who is just starting out, his rhythm teaches that prayer isn't just about reciting words; it’s a holy hide-and-seek. Bernard invites us to literally hide ourselves within these wounds, seeing them as clefts in the rock where we can find shelter when our own lives feel turbulent or heavy. As I start this process, I’ve been practicing what I call gazing and greeting. Following Bernard’s lead, I look at the Crucifix an...
Post a Comment
Read more

Woman, Behold Your Son

The spiritual climax of the Gospel of John, as Father John Waiss points out, occurs at the foot of the Cross, where Jesus utters his parting words: “Woman, behold, your son!” and “Behold your mother!” (John 19:26-27). While these words were addressed to the Apostle John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, the Church has long understood this moment as a universal adoption. To truly image Christ, we must share in His parentage; if we embrace God as our spiritual Father but reject Mary as our mother, we treat Christ as a half-brother rather than our "firstborn among many brethren" (Rom. 8:29). As Origen noted as early as the third century, the profound depths of the Gospel are only accessible to those who, like John, rest their heads on Jesus’ breast and receive Mary into their own homes. This maternal role is deeply rooted in biblical typology, positioning Mary as the fulfillment of the great mothers of the Old Covenant. She is the New Eve , the mother of all the living according ...
Post a Comment
Read more

From Fisherman to Foremen: Peter’s First Act as Shepherd

In the immediate aftermath of the Ascension, we see a profound transformation in Peter, moving from the impulsive fisherman who once fled in the garden to the courageous shepherd of the early Church. By standing up in the heart of Jerusalem to deliver his first great "sermon" at Pentecost, Peter is not merely offering an inspired speech; he is stepping into the primordial role of the Papacy. He was specifically commissioned by Christ on the shores of Galilee to "feed my sheep," and here we see that nourishment take the form of the Word. He takes control of a frightened and confused community, providing the definitive interpretation of the Resurrection and anchoring the fledgling Church in the truth of the Gospel. This moment in the Acts of the Apostles reminds us that the authority of Peter was never about personal power, but about the sacred duty of unity and guidance. By taking the lead in the upper room and before the crowds, Peter demonstrates that the "key...
Post a Comment
Read more