Last time I spoke about Peter, the greatest of the Apostles, and our first Pope. This time I’d like to devote a few words to the least of the Apostles, Judas Iscariot. If Peter is special for always being listed first, Judas is special for always being listed last.
And just as Peter is often listed with two names – he is introduced as “Simon, called Peter” in Matthew 10 – Judas is listed with two names (Iscariot). Rather than being an honorific title, like Peter, Judas is given a second name so as not to discredit other disciples named Judas. Even when he is first introduced in Matthew 10, he is listed as “Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.”
Poor Judas. [Spoiler alert!] He doesn’t even get to enjoy his 30 pieces of silver. He winds up hanging himself in despair after Jesus is condemned. Not a happy ending for Judas. Of course, it is Judas’ fault, for leaving Mass early, for stealing from the treasury, and because the devil had a hold on him. Yet it is a sad story, and not one most people find inspiration in.
I’m not most people, however. I think the story of Judas is included not just to record unfortunate historical events, but as a reason for hope.
First off, note that Judas is chosen by Jesus to be His Apostle. Did Jesus have bad judgement? Was he only able to find eleven worthy men, but needed a twelfth to fill the spot? No. Jesus knew what He was doing. He calls every one of us, saint or sinner, and gives us the opportunity to say “yes” or “no.”
Even when Judas stole from the treasury and sinned, Jesus did not reject him. In fact, John writes about Judas’ betrayal at the Last Supper:
The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist.
Think about it. Jesus knew that Judas had already decided to betray Him, and what does He do? He becomes a servant to him, to Judas. Not because He thought Judas was OK and his sin wasn’t important, but in spite of it.
Even at our worst moments, Jesus never stops loving us, and never stops giving us the means to repent and come back to Him. This is an amazing message of hope and love.
And even after Judas was dead, his office did not die with him. He was replaced by Matthias. There are those who say that the Catholic Church may have been founded by Jesus, but it lost its authority because of corrupt bishops or popes. It is true that some bishops have been corrupt. In fact, it is true that all bishops and popes have sinned. Certainly Peter did, when he denied Jesus three times. And certainly Judas did, when he committed what is perhaps the greatest sin of all time – sentencing God to death. Yet these men did not lose their authority, and their office continued through successors.
Through the story of Judas we learn that the Church does not go away because of the failures of its ministers, but continues to be guided by the Holy Spirit in spite of them. As Jesus promised, the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. That, to me, is the message of hope in the story of Judas.
Copyright © 2014, Michael Lindner
Michael Lindner
Mike is a scouter, a science geek, a dad, a husband and a Catholic. He earns a living as a software engineer in beautiful New Jersey. In his spare time (ha ha) he muses at his blog What Does Mike Think? He is not a writer (which will be painfully obvious after reading his posts) but feels called to apologetics and evangelization anyway. You have been warned.
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