And then there were eleven….
Dear Friends,
In order for someone to be forgiven, they must sincerely ask for forgiveness.
Through the centuries since Jesus walked the earth in a physical body, we have looked upon Judas, one of the twelve disciples chosen by our Master, and wondered how such a horrible betrayal could have occurred, even if it was ordained and necessary.
Some believe that he must have been a very advanced being and aware of what he had to do in order to bring about the salvation of the earth and its human population.
Others believe that his motives were murkier; perhaps a desire to force his Master’s hand to declare himself the Messiah and free the kingdom of Israel from the yoke of Rome.
One of the first signs of his falling away written in the Testament is his indignation at the “waste” of the expensive ointment that Mary Magdalene used to anoint the feet of Jesus. It was clear that “giving to the poor” was merely an excuse to register disgust and disbelief at the display of Mary’s unconditional love for her Lord, which Judas by then was unable to feel or respect.
“It appears likely that he had become progressively disgruntled with many things, among them those preposterous occurrences which went beyond the realm of human understanding.”
“The ordinary mind, having no previous conditioning to such things, can cope with just about so many miracles before feeling either an urge to throw up its hands and settle back into “normal” procedure having nothing more to do with such strange goings on, or he is inspired to go wholeheartedly all the way.” -Book of the Master Jesus
Judas symbolically is the part of every man that finds a way out of giving totally to the mission of the Christ. By falling back into cynical disbelief at the miracles one has actually witnessed, the inner Judas can return to the material mind that has given him so much trouble but yet is familiar and tame—
not at all the stepping off into the unknown required of a true aspirant.
Even Judas is forgiven once he repents and asks sincerely for forgiveness.
We cannot know his journey, but in our own, let us give our whole heart and soul to accepting forgiveness each day and as a divine fool in faith, step out in selfless action.
May we all be channels for this influx of grace in this Holy Season. A Most Blessed Easter,
Revs. Mary & Mark Anderson
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1 Corinthians 11:23-26
23For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.