On not judging (Wednesday/Holy Week)

‘… Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, ‘Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?’. (Matt 26:25)

Matt 26:14-25 (Wednesday of Holy Week)

The theme of betrayal is taken up again this week. Yesterday we heard from the gospel of John. Today’s is Matthew’s turn. As in the other gospels, the story of betrayal is merged into the story of the ‘Last Supper’ – the new Passover with all the meaning and depth of connection to the history of the Jewish people that this entails. The dipping of the hands in the same dish signalled profound communion, trust and intimacy (refer to this excellent resource for scripture reading by a Carmelite congregation). Yet, Jesus did not expose Judas in front of the brethren but let him continue in the company. Not only that, but he continued to dine with the others who would flee or deny Jesus the same night.

The gospels are hard on Judas and rightly so. Yet, we may wonder if Judas had a ‘Plan B’ whereby the plan was to out Jesus on his Messianic mission and the people and the religious leaders would then see, once and for all, that he was the true Messiah expected by them all?  For sure, Judas was given to stealing and misappropriation of funds and he knew how to drive a hard bargain with the authorities. Perhaps he had pitched for 40 pieces of silver but was negotiated down to 30!  Could there be a link from this story to the injunction raised in Exodus (21:32) that the owner of a bull that gores a slave has to pay over 30 shekels of silver to the owner of the slave in ransom)? The price on Joseph who was sold into slavery in Egypt was 20 shekels (Gen 37:28.

Fast forward a few days and we learn that Judas took his own life. Guilt and shame had overtaken him. He realised – too late – that he had committed a terrible evil. Does this suggest that his motives in betraying Jesus were mixed and not entirely motivated by money?  Either way he made the final mistake of not trusting in God’s mercy even then.  There are no shrines or memories to Judas – obviously. However, we may wonder about the full circumstances in which he betrayed Jesus and what his outcome was in eternity. There is a tradition – not very theologically orthodox perhaps – that suggests that the Devil will be forgiven at the end of time such is the mystery of God’s boundless mercy. I will not speculate on this matter.

It would be ironic in the extreme if we find Judas awaiting us in heaven having repented at some point before it was too late?! We just don’t know for sure! Pleasant and unpleasant surprises may be in store for us on the other side of the great divide that separates our lives in this world from what is to come.

As some sources claim, there is no ‘Canon of the Damned’, there is only the ‘Canon of the Saints’. There is always hope and possibility as long as live and breathe.

In each of us there – but for the grace of God – goes another Judas.