In the second session of THE GIFT OF LOVE last Thursday, we discussed Jesus being abandoned by his disciples and even being betrayed by two of them: Judas and Peter. While there is no comparison between the sins of Judas and Peter against Jesus, we can learn from "contrasting what they did after their sinful actions". This can help us reflect on our own sinfulness and on the real meaning of REPENTANCE in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
But before talking about REPENTANCE, let's compare those two sinful actions based on St Mark's Gospel where Judas is the one that Jesus singled out at the Last Supper: "Amen I say to you, ONE OF YOU WILL BETRAY ME, one who is eating with me". The disciples began to be distressed and to say to him, one by one: "Surely it is not I?". Jesus responded: "ONE OF THE TWELVE, the one who dips with me into the dish. For 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." (Mark 14: 18-21).
Then after Supper, Jesus and his disciples went out to the Mount of Olives and he warned them that “ All of you will have your faith shaken" to which PETER replied: "MY FAITH WILL NOT BE SHAKEN" and Jesus responded: "AMEN I say to you, this very night BEFORE THE COCK CROWS twice YOU WILL DENY ME THREE TIMES". Then Peter vehemently replied, "EVEN THOUGH I SHOULD HAVE TO DIE WITH YOU, I WILL NOT DENY YOU." (Mark 14: 26-31)
One could say that both Peter and Judas betrayed Jesus though in different ways and degrees: Judas' betrayal led directly to Jesus' arrest and he was rewarded with money by the chief priests. Peter's betrayal took place after Jesus' arrest when he denied categorically three times that he knew Jesus. We know that Peter will not accompany Jesus on his way to Calvary, but with John, he will be the first of the Twelve to go to the empty tomb and from then on remain trusting in the Risen Lord. Peter repented of his earlier denial. He looked up to Jesus, whom he was the first to recognize as the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. Peter is also the one whom the Risen Lord will question three times: “Do you love me?" and will appoint him as lead shepherd of his flock: "FEED MY SHEEP".
We learn from Matthew's Gospel that “Judas, his betrayer, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, DEEPLY REGRETTED what he had done. He returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying I HAVE SINNED IN BETRAYING INNOCENT BLOOD ...Flinging the money into the temple , he departed and went off and HANGED HIMSELF " (Matthew 27: 3-5). There is a big difference between "REGRETTING" what one has done and "REPENTING" for what one has done. When Judah saw that Jesus had been condemned, the direct consequence of his action, he regretted his action. We go to confession (Sacrament of Reconciliation) because we are sorry that we have sinned: we regret the sinful actions that have separated us from God. But we know that for God to forgive us, we also need to REPENT by promising to Him "that with the help of His grace (we cannot do it alone) we firmly resolve to confess our sins, to do penance and amend our lives." Was Judas sorry? Yes. Was he repentant? No! He was ashamed of his action, and he became desperate. He did not want to keep the money that he had gained by "betraying innocent blood". He lost all hope and chose to hang himself. Had he gone back to Jesus and asked for forgiveness, we know with hindsight that Jesus would have forgiven him. However, he had not understood that Jesus was God. Yes, he had heard Jesus talk about the Father’s Mercy (e.g. Parable of the Prodigal Son) and the fact that Jesus himself was One with the Father. But Jesus had not yet risen from the dead and Jesus' divinity had not been revealed to him.
I invite you to reflect on your own experience. Have you ever felt betrayed by a friend? Or have you betrayed a friend? Were you able to RECONCILE with that friend afterward? What course of action would you recommend to one of your friends that has been betrayed by someone else? Whenever I prepare a couple for the Sacrament of Matrimony (Marriage) I emphasize the importance of being forgiving at all times including times of betrayal: the promise of Marriage is to remain husband and wife forever, always loving, respecting and forgiving one another in GOOD TIMES AND BAD TIMES.
Whenever we sin, we separate ourselves from God. Whenever we sin, we betray God's trust in us. Jesus, who is God, made it very clear to us:" You are my friends when you obey my commands." The implication is that when we disobey the TWO GREAT COMMNANDMENTS OF LOVE (Love God above everyone and everything else, Love one another as Jesus has loved us) we are no longer Jesus' friends: like Peter and Judas, we have then betrayed our friend Jesus. In the same way Jesus said, "there is NO GREATER LOVE than to give his life for one's friend", we could say: "in human relationship, there is no greater fault than to betray one's friend". To be a true disciple of Jesus is to deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow him. The disciple is no longer a friend of Jesus when he begins to turn away from Jesus so as to move in the opposite direction.
This is why the Sacrament of Reconciliation is so important, not only during Lent or Advent but throughout the Year. PREPARATION before Confession is critical : you may use standard examinations of conscience (based on the Ten Commandments, or linked with the Seven Deadly or Capital Sins) or for a change, you may pray the beautiful LITANY OF REPENTANCE (click here). Whenever we enter the confessional, we have made a U-Turn. We have literally come back to Jesus as the priest acts “in the person of Christ” in each of the Church's sacraments. May we all hear Jesus speak to our hearts: "Come back to me and I will forgive you. REPENT and YOUR SINS WILL BE FORGIVEN."
One in Christ,
Fr. Alain