"Complete Joy" by Beth DeCristofaro
(Peter) said, “My brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be
fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand through the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who was the guide for those who
arrested Jesus. Judas was numbered among us and was allotted a share in this ministry. For it is written in the Book of
Psalms: Let his encampment become desolate, and may no one dwell in it. and:
May another take his office. (Acts 1:13-20)
Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father
loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments,
you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and
remain in his love. “I have told you this so that my joy might be
in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another
as I love you. (John 15: 9-12)
Piety
Dear Lord, may I live each day knowing your
joy. May I seek each day to remain in
your love, to judge others only with love.
May I come before you rejoicing, ready for your loving judgment in the
eve of my day.
Study
Tradition has it that Judas’ great sin was
not turning Jesus over to the authorities for silver but that he despaired of
his treachery. That he killed himself
was a rejection of Jesus’ offer of love and Jesus’ assertion that God loves all
creation perfectly no matter our shortcomings or betrayals. The phrase Peter
quoted from Psalm 69 struck me in its stark condemnation: Let his encampment become desolate, and
may no one dwell in it. This censure encompasses Judas, his family, and
potentially his clan – not that the blame is being laid on others – but the sin
is so great that it overwhelms all who are part of his encampment.
Yet just hours later Jesus hung suffering on
the cross. As he was dying he forgave
those who tortured him and, more importantly, those who rejected him as from
God thus rejecting God. It is so darn
hard to forgive and, yes, it is so darn hard to ask forgiveness. Yet doing both draw us into a deeper
relationship with our loving, forgiving God.
I know Judas’ lack of ability to forgive himself and to admit in front
of God that I am a sinner because it takes humility and deep faith to put one’s
failures before God, accepting them and placing them in the hands of divinity.
St John of the Cross might have had John’s Gospel in mind when he said ““In the
evening of life, we will be judged on love alone.” Did Judas distrust his faith or perhaps did
not want to let go of his version of how Jesus’ ministry should look? We do not know but we know that he did not
appear to remain in Jesus and to believe these beautiful words promising complete
joy.
Action
In these disordered times, many of us turn to prayer. Are we able to also find joy in the life we
have been given, in our relationship with our Lord? Do we reach out to offer joy to others,
particularly those who seem to feel least able to accept it?
illustration: God's Garden, Carmelites
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