The Gift of Treachery
The betrayal of Christ is a great gift to mankind, even if this sounds a bit like an oxymoron. When speaking of betrayal, our mind always goes to Judas. But it wasn't only Judas that betrayed Him. Others did as well. Look at the list: His fellow countrymen. His friend (Peter). His relatives. The people. And in the end, the 11 of His disciples that remained betrayed Him as well. I call this betrayal of Christ a gift, because how else could we stand betrayal - which to one degree or other we have all experienced - without the knowledge that even Christ, the Son of God, was betrayed. And so, treachery is one of the most tragic sins of humanity. Judas, Christ's disciple, His friend, turned Him over to His enemies so they could kill Him. In spite of the fact that Christ forewarned him. "Truly I say to you that one of you will betray me," He told His disciples. And Judas betrayed Him in the worst way. "Rabbi," he cried out that the soldiers could hear him, and he "kissed" Him, as Judas had prearranged with them. According to St. Luke the Evangelist, Christ answered him "Judas, you would betray the Son of Man with a kiss." And according to St. Matthew, Christ told him "Friend, why have you come?" Later, Judas bitterly regretted his act. "I have sinned, having given over the blood of an innocent man," he told the Scribes and Pharisees. "And after he threw the silver pieces into the temple he left and went and hung himself." Is Judas' last-minute repentance a sign of hope for man? Or, so long as jealousy and envy, and greed exists, will betrayal always remain? A.H.D.
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