6 March 2013 3rd Week of Lent -- Wednesday The treason of Judas “As he spoke, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs ...” (Mt 26:47) Judas, taught by Jesus for three years, confirmed in the faith by so many miracles, loaded with favors, has become the tool of those who plot the death of his Lord. For thirty pieces of silver he treacherously delivers him into their hands. Such is the depth of blindness into which avarice has slowly plunged Judas! What revolting hypocrisy! Did Judas believe that he could deceive God, as he had deceived men? How passion blinds its victims! Everybody detests the crime of Judas; but there are Christians nowadays who renew it by making a sacrilegious Communion. They in reality deliver up Jesus under the cloak of piety, to the demons in their hearts. May God preserve us from such a crime! There are acts of hypocrisy less revolting but which we ought neverthess to fear and detest -- contenting ourselves with exterior virtue and piety, being more careful about duties before colleagues than when alone, alleging false pretexts to attain our ends, etc. Which is the more wonderful -- the sweetness of Jesus, or hardness of heart of Judas? In addressing Judas, “My friend”, Jesus signified his readiness to pardon him. By asking Judas, “What did you come for?” (Mt 26:50) Jesus wished to help Judas examine himself, to recognize and abhor his crime. But Judas was firm. Jesus tried again to convert him by showing he knew of his treachery, saying: “Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Lk 22:48) All was in vain. He remained obstinate. The extraordinary gentleness of Jesus ought to redouble our love for him. The unusual hardness of the traitor should fill us with fear and extreme distrust of ourselves, no matter how virtuous we believe we are. Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp96-8 A Path of Faith Lent is presented ‘in the likeness of a path’, like that to which God called Abraham: “Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father’s house to a land I will show you.” (Gen 12:1) He set off, without lingering nor any support other than the divine promise. Lent is a journey for us, too. We are called to face it with determination; to entrust ourselves to the plans God has for us. Even though the journey may be full of trials, St Paul assures us that, like Timothy, each of us is helped by “the strength which comes from God” (2 Tim 1:8). And the country toward which we are heading is ‘the Christian’s new life’. It is a paschal Life, which can be realized only through the ‘power’ and the ‘grace’ of God: a mysterious power, “the grace held out to us in Christ Jesus before the world began but now made manifest by the appearance of our Savior. He has robbed death of its power and has brought life and immortality into clear light through the gospel.” (2 Tim 1:9-10) The letter to Timothy also points out that the bread of new life is given to us because of a mysterious calling and assignment on God’s part “not because of any merit of ours but according to His own design” (2 Tim 1:9). So we ought to be men and women of faith, like Abraham; that is, who do not count so much on themselves as on the word, the grace and the power of God. The Lord Jesus, while living on earth, personally revealed this way to His disciples. Ref: Cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp113-4 Begin again after every failure Our failures, often unforeseen, can usually lead to progress in our interior life. That is, if we react to them with humility and a firmer determination to follow Our Lord. Perseverance does not consist in never falling down, but in always getting up again every time we do. Very often we will hear the Holy Spirit say: ‘Make a new start with deeper humility ...’ “When a soldier in battle is wounded or has to give ground a little, no one is so demanding or so ignorant of military matters as to think this is a crime. Only those who do not fight are never wounded; those who charge the enemy with the greatest spirit are the ones who receive the most blows.” (cf St John Chrysostom, “Second Exhortation to Theodore”, 5) Let us ask Our Lady for the grace never to abandon our interior struggle, however depressing or even catastrophic our previous experience may have been; and for the grace and the humility always to begin again. Let us also ask her that we may always persevere in our apostolate, even if it seems to produce no fruit. One day, perhaps when we shall have arrived in heaven, Our Lord will show us the fruits of that apostolate and how, although at times it seemed to be useless, was in fact always effective. The seed which is sown always brings forth grain: “some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (Mt 13:8) ... much grain from one seed. Ref: Cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:92-3 Crucible -- “Insults hurt so much, even though you want to love them. Don’t be surprised: offer them to God.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge”, 793) Prayer for our enemies O GOD, the lover and preserver of peace and charity: grant unto all our enemies peace and true charity; give them remission of all their sins, and by Thy power deliver us from their snares. Amen. (Very Rev Charles J Callan, OP, STM and Very Rev John A McHugh, OP, STM, “Blessed Be God”, 1925, p469) • Our Lady of Nazareth, at Black Rock, in Portugal. This image was honored at Nazareth in the time of the apostles, if we may believe a writing which was found, by a hunter, attached to this image, in the year 1150.—(Triple Couronne, n. 13.) “Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar (http://www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Nossa Senhora do Nazareth. Pierre-Noire, Portugal. 1150. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of Nazareth, Pierre Noire, Portugal (1150). (http://www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html) • Our Lady of Nazareth (Pierre-Noire, Portugal). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)