 The Last Supper, Judas leaves Jesus to betray Him. Church in Dubrovnik, Croatia Taken by Sue Kathman, used with permission |
April 4, 2012 Wednesday of Holy Week
Dear Family of Mary!
"Dear children! As the Queen of Peace, I desire to give peace to you, my children, true peace which comes through the heart of my Divine Son. As a mother I pray that wisdom, humility and goodness may come to reign in your hearts - that peace may reign - that my Son may reign. When my Son will be the ruler in your hearts, you will be able to help others to come to know Him. When heavenly peace comes to rule over you, those who are seeking it in the wrong places, thus causing pain to my motherly heart, will recognize it. My children, great will be my joy when I see that you are accepting my words and that you desire to follow me. Do not be afraid, you are not alone. Give me your hands and I will lead you. Do not forget your shepherds. Pray that in their thoughts they may always be with my Son who called them to witness Him. Thank you." (April 2, 2012)
In the Gospel today, Matthew 26:14-25, we peer into the heart of Judas Iscariot. We see him steal off to the chief priests and bargain over the price for Jesus' capture. We wonder how Judas could do such a thing. We recoil at his choice, his money lust, his betrayal. After all that Judas has experienced in Jesus' presence, how could he do it? What is going on in Judas' heart?
We also hear Jesus tell the twelve, "Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me" (v. 21). The eleven are distressed! Jesus knows what is coming; they have learned to rely on his foresight. But who could do such a thing? Not I!! Surely not I!! Even Judas says it, "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?" We wonder again. How could Judas try to hide behind such a pretense? He has already sold Jesus to the high priests. What is going on in Judas' heart?
But even more amazing to me is that Judas keeps up his pretense of innocence, even after he hears Jesus' dire prediction of calamity for his betrayer. "The son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born" (v. 24). Woe to that man... Judas must know he is the man. So why doesn't this declaration freeze his heart? What is going on in Judas' heart?
It is my guess (though we can never know for sure what is transpiring in another's heart) that Judas had not made Jesus the ruler of his heart, as Our Lady asks us in this message. Judas had not given himself to Jesus in love and trust. Judas had not allowed Jesus to enter into his heart and reign. Judas had kept his heart closed, and even though he was one of the twelve, he was not a disciple at heart. Judas was following Judas. Judas was focused on himself, his own desires, his own ideals, his own projects. And so he didn't even hear much of what Jesus was saying. It was deflected from penetrating Judas' mind and heart by the closed wall that had developed over so much time, that wall that kept Jesus out, and unfortunately allowed satan to enter in.
Judas had free will. We all have free will. We must invite Jesus to enter our hearts and rule there. We can say no. We can choose other gods. We can build a wall around our hearts that will keep Jesus out, and unfortunately will let satan in.
Jesus must have suffered as he watched Judas build that wall over time, deflecting Jesus' words, rejecting Jesus' counsel and wisdom, choosing to listen to satan. It was a tragedy in motion. But Judas' free will was sacred and Jesus would not trespass upon it. Judas chose, and Jesus paid the price.
Our Lady is with us to help us not make the same mistake. She desires that we allow Jesus to rule in our hearts, to be our King and Lord. She desires that Jesus' words not only enter our hearts but take root there. She knows that our eternal life is at stake. Will we hear her voice, will we follow her? Yes, with all our hearts we will! Jesus is our Lord!
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan ©Mary TV 2012 |
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