Judas had been counted as one of the apostles, called by the Lord to be an agent for good, but he became, by his own choice, an undercover agent for the enemy, for Satan. For 30 pieces of silver, Judas would betray the trust of his friend, his teacher, his rabbi, in order to deliver him into the hands of his enemies. And Judas knew what they would do to him.
That moment of betrayal would occur following the Last Supper in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Judas instigated the Lord’s arrest with the sign of a kiss. A kiss, what is to be a sign of affection and friendship and love becomes an instrument of evil. The agent of evil uses good things to pursue his evil ends.
But we know the rest of the story. How our good God turned the greatest evil into the greatest good.
And so, unlike Judas who goes spying looking for opportunities for evil, Christians must go spying, and looking for opportunities for good, always on the lookout to do some good. Psalm 37 says “Trust in the Lord and do good… Depart from evil and do good, So you will abide forever.” The Lord Jesus himself teaches “love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great” St. Paul instructs bishop Timothy to instruct his flock “Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.”
Being Christian isn’t just about avoiding evil, avoiding selfishness, rather, we are to be agents of good. Endeavoring to do good works, looking for opportunities to inject the goodness of God into this fallen world. Christianity is a different way of life than just keeping your head down, minding your own business, just thinking about yourself, We aren’t to look for opportunities to personally benefit, we’re to look for opportunities that cost us something.
That’s the very opposite of Judas’ selfish, greedy, betrayal…we are to put ourselves on the line for others. Judas snuck in the shadows, we are to walk in the light with abounding good works.
On this final full day of Lent, give to the Lord in prayer, penance, and good works, countering the selfishness of Judas expecting nothing in return in nomine Christi, in the name of Christ, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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That the grace of the upcoming holy days may touch the most hardened of hearts, and move unrepented sinners and fallen-away Catholics to return to the mercy of God.
For strength to resist temptation, and the humility to sincerely repent of sin.
That through fasting and self-denial, we may be ever more conformed to Christ.
That those in need may find assistance in the charity of faithful Christians and that peace and security may be firmly established in all places.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.
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