Experiencing God - Thoughts on betrayal 182

"One of the twelve, the man called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said: "What are you prepared to give me if I hand him over to you?"
Gospel of Matthew

The other day I read a posting on Facebook which said:  "Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friends.  On further review, I discovered that this was a quote from Martin Luther King Jr., the leader of the African American Civil Rights Movements of the sixties. 

At the same time, we have all been somewhat shocked by the fatal stabbing and death of five young university students at a quiet house party in Calgary.  Such events like this mystify us.  Why would anyone do such a horrific act?  Why would anyone wish to inflict so much pain and grief on innocent people and their families?  We recognize the tragedy, but have very few answers to our questions.  And yet, at the same time, we cannot give up on the belief and conviction that love is still that formidable force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.

The above gospel reading from Matthew is a reminder of a similar tragedy.  Jesus, the one who lived most perfectly the actions of love, is Himself betrayed; and betrayed by someone very close to Him, one of His own.

Many writers, over the years, have explored why Judas who was exposed in a deep personal way to the teachings, the miracles, the presence of Christ, would turn around and act out in the manner that he did.  And just like the in assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., and the death of these five young university kids in Calgary, we will never come up with answers that will satisfy us.  But as Christians, we cannot give up on the actions of Christ and our desire to imitate Him in loving and forgiving others. 

I don't believe Jesus gave up on Judas, hoping against hope that love would change his heart.  For Judas was there when He called His disciples friends, when He washed their feet as an example to follow, and as He shared in the breaking of the bread.

To not love others, for a Christian is, in a sense, our own betrayal of the message of Christ and all that he tries to teach us through the example of His own life.  So we must go on with the Christian belief and conviction that love is still the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.

Anger and hatred are realities that exist, and we must acknowledge their presence around us, but our love, founded through our faith in Christ, is still the catalyst for change, not only for ourselves, but for all those we encounter.  It is in Christ that we place our hope.