Jesus was betrayed
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
Pontius Pilot said: "I am innocent of this man's blood, see to it yourselves." (Mt 27:24), and all the people answered: "His blood be on us and on our children." (Mt. 27:25). Judas, after realizing what he did when he betrayed Jesus, said, "I have sinned in betraying innocent blood." (Mt. 27:4). All people who are sinners have had a hand in His betrayal, not any one particular person.
Jesus came on this earth for only one reason, because the Father sent Him to redeem us. His death and resurrection was the result of this betrayal. Had there been only one person on earth at the time of His death, He would have gone through with it, because Jesus loves everyone, even sinners. He does, however, not love the sin.
By His unselfish act of giving His life for us, for all of us, on the Cross, His innocent blood is used for the good of mankind, He redeems us of our sins to give us the opportunity to be with Him forever in paradise. No, Jesus did not punish us for betraying Him, He forgave us because He is our brother! I thought of this, when I watched a movie about the Vatican, where there are images of Pope Saint John Paul II touching and hugging lepers. The staff photographer of the Pope remarked something about the terrible stench that accompanied these lepers, of rotted flesh, and still the Holy Father embraced them. That's something only a few have done in this life. Jesus kissed the lepers, so did St. Francis of Assisi, and on October 11, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI canonized Father Damien de Veuster in ceremonies at the Vatican. He worked with the lepers at Molokai in the Hawaiian Islands. Father Damian contracted leprosy as a result of his constant exposure to this disease.
Nowadays, modern medicines have done much to help lepers. I spent approximately one hour with a group of lepers in 1996 at the Leprosarium hospital in Carville, Louisiana. It is a disease very much misunderstood. It is an experience that is with me very often in thought, because it gave me some insight how those who had protracted contact with patients must have felt. As one reads about St. Francis, it is easy to conclude that he didn't have the slighted hesitation in embracing these unfortunate people - all he saw were people who suffered their Cross along with Jesus, and Pope St. John Paul II probably felt no different. Jesus' love for his brothers and sisters (that's us), probably felt the same way - not fear of infection, but deep compassion for one and all. This innocent man, we betrayed Him, and we did not bat an eyelash, if one reads Mt. 27:24-25.
"Lord, if you will, you can make me clean," said the leper (Mt.8:2). When we sin, and we do that a lot, then we are also diseased, very much like a leper. Yet, we ask the Betrayed for His help, despite our denial of Him. St. Peter denied Him three times before the cock crowed, as was prophesized.
Our denial does not end there. How many times have we succumbed to temptation by saying that God does not mind. Do you really think so? I would think about this carefully. Some say "God understands me!" Yes, He sure does, but He didn't give us permission to disobey, to lie and cheat, to mistreat people, to mistreat ourselves. The Ten Commandments, which we love to deny, still are God's Word to Moses. Just by hiding those tablets we betray God over and over again, but His Law still stands and is to be obeyed.
1. I am the LORD your God. You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
4. Honor your father and your mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.
(Above is the Catholic version of the Ten Commandments; other faiths may have slightly different wording or different numbering) General reference: Exodus 20.
The Ten Commandments aren't really that difficult to figure out. Let's not betray Jesus again, let's accept His Law, and that of the Church, and His everlasting Grace will help you and bless you. Amen.
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
4/17/2011 slightly rev. 3/15/2024