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Reading
Luke 9.43b-45
While everyone was amazed at all that Jesus was doing, he said to his disciples, ‘Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.’ But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
Reflection
Jesus said to his disciples: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed …
Jesus knew throughout his earthly ministry that he was going to be betrayed. The gospels tell us that Jesus even knew the identity of the one who was to betray him. What must that have felt like to the human Jesus? The divine Jesus knew that this betrayal was part of God’s plan to rescue humanity but … what must the walking, talking, breathing human Jesus have felt about this?
We all have times when we feel betrayed. As a parish priest I experience many times when I suddenly find that my words and actions are being criticised in the most aggressive and personal ways. Of course, this is not reserved for the clergy alone. Everyone can wake up one day and find that they are the subject of a campaign of criticism, even hate.
In our modern age we have the advantage of many means of communication. Unfortunately, social media and emails are not easily retrieved once the ‘send’ button has been hit. The damage has been done. The late night (sometimes alcohol driven) rantings of an ill-informed mind enter the public domain, and the betrayal has taken place. This modern form of betrayal takes no account of the stresses and strains of those on the receiving end. It is purely about self-gratification.
In the national life of all countries we find that the crime of treason (betrayal) is deemed to be one of the most heinous. Most of us are able to name ‘notable’ traitors (betrayers) of the last century. These people, despite backgrounds of social respectability, placed their ideals, their wishes, their wants before those of all their fellow citizens. Their actions rocked societies because of the sour taste of betrayal they left behind.
The Christian life calls for love towards all, even those with whom we have nothing in common. The Christian life demands that we set aside our love of gossip and engage with others in a spirit of honesty and openness. The Christian life identifies those who betray Christ’s call to love and serve alongside the one who was to betray him … Judas Iscariot.
Let us pray that we might remain true and loving in all that we say and do. Let us pray that we might never betray our neighbours. Let us pray that we might regard all people with mutual respect. Let us pray that we may never betray Christ by failing to love God and neighbour with all our heart, with all our mind, and with all our strength. Let us pray that we never find ourselves aligned with the actions of the one who betrayed the Son of God.