BETRAYAL

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this Tuesday in Holy Week  is, “Betrayal!”

I have a collection of quotes by various people – stating what they think is the greatest sin. The sins include sins of commission and omission – ranging from laziness to lying to pride to self-centeredness – to denial that there is such a thing as sin in the first place – to denial that other people can be different than us.

Question: “Well then, what do I think is the greatest sin?”

Answer: “It all depends!”

Question: Is the greatest sin – being slippery – being cute – being evasive?

Answer: “It all depends!”

TODAY’S GOSPEL

Today’s gospel and the gospels this week certainly make the case for betrayal as the greatest sin. Notice the little short sentence in the English version of today’s gospel. When Jesus hands Judas the morsel of food – Judas takes it. Then the gospel simply says, “And it was night.” The lights went out in Judas mind, heart and soul – and he goes out and sells Jesus out. Yet, the gospel gives hints that Judas had second thoughts when he tossed back the 30 pieces of silver.

And Judas kills himself.

At times suicide was listed as the greatest sin – because it was seen as despair – completely giving up the hope in a God who could save us. Then there are horror stories about people wanting a funeral in church for a loved one who committed suicide – and they were refused a funeral Mass and a Christian burial.

And I’m sure some would see that the refusal was the greatest sin. If ever a family needed support, it could be that moment. As priest I’ve experienced how difficult a funeral is for the family of someone who took their own life.

The gospels could make a great case that abusing children would be the greatest sin – especially based on Jesus’ words that it would be better that a person have a millstone tied around their neck and then they be thrown into the sea – than lead a little one astray.

And the Pharisees are constantly being challenged by Jesus for being filled with inner death – inner judgment about everyone else but themselves – that they have it right and everyone else has it wrong – especially Jesus.

BETRAYAL

Betrayal would certainly be in the running for the greatest sin.

Having sat with a lot of couples preparing for marriage, betrayal, breaking trust, an affair, is usually mentioned as the deal breaker – because the covenant is broken – trust is broken – it’s all over. It’s night. The lights have gone out in the marriage – and they are saying this even before they start.

Dante puts betrayal in the 9th, the bottom, the worst circle of Hell – and in the center of that circle near Judas is Lucifer or Satan – who betrayed God. And there they are frozen, stuck in ice, biting into and then chewing each other’s heads. Messy stuff.

DE PROFUNDIS

Holy Week certainly deals with these big issues.

I’ve always loved it that the Redemptorist motto is taken from Psalm 130 – the De Profundis Psalm, the “Out of the Depths I cry to you, O God,” Psalm. And in that psalm are the words and the Redemptorist motto, “In Him, there is fullness of redemption.”

"Copiosa apud eum redemptio" in Latin.

With Christ there is copious redemptio - fullness of redemption - unending forgivness.

Even if one hits the bottom of the bottom – the deepest pits, and they feel like they are in the 9th circle of hell – totally frozen – there is always hope. Even if one feels like they are in total night, there is a dawn.

That’s what Psalm 130 proclaims – so we Redemptorists hope that you being part of our Redemptorist charism, vision, message and mission, will always trust that God will never give up on you – that God will forgive any and every sin – especially if you feel you’ve committed the greatest sin.

Tough stuff to think about on a Tuesday morning.

I would also assume that’s why the painting of the Good Shepherd is up here in our sanctuary.

So this Good Friday see Jesus on the Cross as our Redeemer.

So this Good Friday hear loud and clear Jesus’ words from the cross, “Father forgive them because they don’t know what they are doing?”

CONCLUSION

I would assume that’s why Father Daniel Francis last week – preaching a Redemptorist Mission here in our parish - told on one of those night talks the story about Jesus getting up from the banquet table of heaven and going to the window hoping to see Judas coming up the road - coming  home.

Daniel has it better than Dante who has Judas almost up to his neck – stuck in ice – in the very bottom of hell.