I recently watched a video by Fr. Michael Schmitz about Judas. Go check it out here.
Most of us know the story of Judas. Judas is the disciple who betrayed Jesus, then did not repent, and ended up hanging himself. In his video, Fr. Michael talks about this story in a way I have never thought about.
Judas is one of the twelve and has been with them for at least two years. They lived, traveled, prayed, ate, and did almost everything together. These guys were friends; they would have (all) been looking out for each other. They all thought they knew each other. At the Last Supper, Jesus points out that someone is going to betray him. Judas hadn’t been honest about himself and because of this, the others were surprised by his actions. Judas was fake. He was too afraid to be truly honest with even one of his friends. Imagine what might have happened if he was. One of the others could have gone and followed him. Maybe they would have told him that it wasn’t too late. Maybe they could have saved Judas’ soul.
Who knows what the will of God was in that time and what could or could not have happened. The point is we don’t want to become like Judas. Do you have at least one, friend, brother, or person in your life with whom you can be completely yourself? Do you have someone you are willing to tell about what you are struggling with? Are you willing to listen to what another can tell you?
Do you appreciate the friendships you have? I have recently been doing this 30-day challenge with my best friend and it has help me to appreciate the friendship in a whole new way. I know that I can go to this person about anything in my life. He isn’t going to stop being my friend or judge me for anything. If I start to struggle or fall, he supports me in prayer and helps me get back up. Do you have this person? Do you need to be this person to someone else? Do you need to be better at being this person?
We need people we can be completely honest with. We need people who can call us out in a loving way when we do something stupid. This sometimes hurts us and makes us angry, but that’s how you know it working.
St. Thomas once said, “There is nothing on this earth more to be prized then true brotherhood.”
If you find that true brotherhood, you will find people willing to give what they have for you. You will find brothers willing to give you some of their time just to be with you. IF you find this, don’t let it go. Value it.
“Friendship, as has been said, consists in a full commitment of the will to another person with a view to that person's good.”
― Pope John Paul II,
Just my thoughts
Go with God
Duncan.
