REMEMBER JESUS

Judas betrayed Jesus in exchange for thirty silver coins. It is the amount of money given for a slave gored by an ox (Exodus 21:32). How could Judas do such a thing when he himself witnessed and experienced the goodness and kindness of Christ? Why would Judas choose worldly riches over his Lord and Savior?

To deceive is to cause someone to believe something that is not true. And Satan is the father of lies and deception. Judas chose to be Christ’s betrayer for he was deceived by Satan. How can the Lord of the universe be valued for only thirty silver coins? Such is not true. Such is a deception. And Judas fell into this deception of Satan. Thus Christ was betrayed by one of his intimate friends.

The deception of Satan to Judas succeeded because of Judas’ forgetfulness. Judas forgot the goodness of Christ. Judas forgot that nothing is more value in this world than to have Jesus in one’s life. Judas forgot that the Lord alone suffices. The forgetfulness of Judas is the same forgetfulness that causes us to fall again and again into the deceptions of Satan. We sin and transgress the Lord primarily because we have forgotten about Him and His significance in our life. We exchange the Lord for thirty silver coins of career more than integrity. We exchange the Lord for the thirty silver coins of passing pleasures of sin more than eternal joy He offers to us. We exchange the Lord for thirty silver coins because God has lost His place in our life, changed by the little gods we have created to answer our own selfish desires. Like Judas, we have betrayed Jesus.

How can we be faithful to Jesus and not abandon Him? We can remain devoted to Jesus by being always mindful of Him, that we may not forget Him in our life: To remember always Jesus as the Servant of God who willingly suffered for our sake, who gave his back to those who beat him; his cheeks to those who plucked his beard; whose face he did not shield from buffets and spitting (Is 50:4-9A). We can be constantly reminded of God’s goodness to us if we constantly think about Jesus, especially in the tipping points of our life that demands life-changing decisions. Thinking about Him should lead us to speak about Him, and ultimately live out His teachings. By our way of thinking, speaking, and living guided by Jesus, we will constantly be reminded of His place in our life. Thus, when Satan comes to deceive, we can hold fast to Jesus, who is always present in our life, and whose presence we are aware of. Should we find it difficult to look for Jesus in our life situations, we beg Him to answer us, in the name of His great love for us. After all, the Lord is our constant help.   

The good news is that Christ instituted the sacraments and the Church to be our constant reminder of Him and His goodness.

By becoming mindful of Jesus’ presence and goodness in our life, we can become an avenue of Jesus to our communities and families. We can be reminders to other people of God’s goodness, for in us they see not deceptions but truth about Jesus’ love for man.

NOT A HOPELESS CASE

In the gospel (Jn 13:21-33, 36-38), there are two figures beside Christ worth meditating upon: Judas and Peter. They have similarities and differences, from which we too can relate.

Judas and Peter are both apostles of the Lord. For three years, they heard His teachings. They witnessed the miracles and wonders the Lord has done. They ate on the same table with the Lord. To break bread with someone refers to the companionship they share with one another, a kind of intimacy that is given to everyone. They even dipped their bread in the same cup (pinasawsaw). They were close to Jesus. Thus, both may have professed their faithfulness to Him. 

In the passion of Christ, both Judas and Peter betrayed Jesus. Judas betrayed Jesus in exchange for thirty silver coins. Such is a price for a slave gored by an ox (Exodus 21:32). He valued Jesus simply as a slave and not His Lord and Master. Peter, too, betrayed Jesus as he denied Him three times before the cock crowed.

Judas and Peter both repented for the transgressions they had made against Jesus.  Overcame with guilt, Judas threw the thirty silver coins into the temple (Matthew 27:3–5). After denying the Lord three times, Peter remembered the saying of the Lord; how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times,” and he went out and wept bitterly (Luke 22:61-62).

What is their difference? After Judas repented, he hanged himself. He could not forgive himself. He could not see the possibility that he will be forgiven for the sin he had committed. Peter, on the other, after denying the Lord, remained with the other apostles, meditating what had happened in their company. Later, when given the chance to meet the Risen Lord, Peter would profess his love for Him three times. Judas saw no hope in himself. By remaining with the company of apostles (the Church), Peter saw a merciful God in Jesus who would forgive him for his betrayal. He thought of the possibility of mercy and forgiveness not out of his own merit but by the generosity of God. He saw himself, in the eyes of God, not as a hopeless case, but as one who can be pardoned and be given a chance to start anew.

The story of Judas and Peter is our story. Haven’t we seen the wonders of God in our life? Haven’t we betrayed and denied Jesus every time we sin? Haven’t we repented too? But how are we going to end? Are to be like Judas who never conceived the possibility of forgiveness? Or Peter who focus not on his own worth but on the boundless mercy of God which gave him the opportunity to start anew in his life?  

The good news is Jesus gave us concrete means to seek God’s mercy and forgiveness. That is the sacrament of reconciliation, where God, who is rich in mercy, is waiting for our return to Him. May we see ourselves not as a hopeless case as Judas saw himself. Like Peter, may we continue to have faith in ourselves; that we can be better persons, not by our own strength and merit, but through God who sees us through His merciful eyes. 

GOING FURTHER WITH GOD

The Israelites learned to be faithful to God the hard way; through their mistakes and infidelity to Him. Once they made a calf in Horeb to worship in place of God (cf Exodus 32:7-14). They exchanged their glory for the image of a grass-eating bullock. They forgot the God who had saved them, who had done great deeds in Egypt. God's wrath almost destroyed them if it were not for Moses’ plea for mercy and God's favor to His people.  So the Lord relented in the punishment which He had threatened to inflict on his people  because God so loved the world (John 3:16). They experienced God's mercy and love the hard way. Consequently, that made them cautious not to transgress the Lord, lest they endanger again their status as God's chosen people and receive His wrath.

Pastor Rick Warren said that God's love is like an ocean: You can see its beginning but not its end. For us to experience that love fully, we have to leave the shore, cut the tie of our sail and venture into the unknown. With trust in God, everything will just be fine. It might not be an easy ride but it will surely be worth it. We might be tempted to stay in the security of the shore and not dare to entertain anything that may change the status quo nor try new things for fear that we may transgress the Lord. When Christ brought the message of the love of God to the Jewish people, they held Him in no esteem for He seemed to be a threat to their religion (cf John 5:31-47). Though all testimony they had gathered from John is true, they still denied that He is the Son of God. The wonders He had made in their midst were concrete testimony of His divinity. As they read the books of the prophets, they would realize Jesus as the fulfillment of these prophecies. They did not accept Him, for they held fast to the beliefs Moses handed over to them. But they were mistaken, not knowing that Christ is the fulfillment of Moses’ instructions. Can we blame the Jews for not believing in Christ? The words and miracles of Christ surely moved many of them, but others held some reservations. They were afraid to offend the God of Moses, Isaac, and Jacob. Their excess fear of God caused their failure to grow in their faith to be more trusting in the Lord rather than relying on themselves again. 

Faith in God empowers us to know Him further, to experience His love further, in ways beyond our imagination. Do not be afraid of the new things God presents to us. Without us knowing, these new things may be the fulfillment of the promises of God in our life which we all long for.

RESISTANCE TO CHANGE

Once there was a girl who prayed to Jesus for a doll that would replace her old and tattered one. Every day, in front of the crucifix in their chapel, she would beg Jesus in her prayers for the new toy, showing the sorry condition of her old toy. One day, Jesus appeared to her to answer her prayers. But before she gets her new doll, she had to give up the old, while Jesus held at His back almost a life-size doll made of porcelain. At that moment, when she was about to receive the one she was praying for, she held her old doll tightly. She could not let go of it. More than the memories she had with it, she could not let go of her old doll because of the fear that the new doll might not be better than the one she has. She held the old one firmly, while Jesus kept asking her to let go of the old so that she might be able to embrace the new. She walked away from the chapel, holding in her hands the old doll. She was not able to let go of the old and consequently missed the better and new doll Jesus offered.  

The Pharisees resisted Jesus and His message for they insisted in believing they are right. They heard Jesus but failed to listen to His message, for their ears were covered with self-righteousness. They believed that what they have is the best which no one can equal or surpass. But Jesus is giving something better than any of the best man can ever conceive. Never before has anyone spoken like Jesus. Never before has anyone presented anything like what Jesus offered to man: eternal life. The coming of Jesus divided them, for they were torn between holding on to what they believed to be the best, and letting go of it to embrace the gift Jesus offered.

Are we torn with the same predicament, holding on to the things we think to be the best; between what Jesus offers to us which is better than the best? When confusion clouds our judgment, we entrust ourselves to God. God, after all, is our refuge and strength. In him, we shall find clarity of mind and heart; that is, if we dare to listen more than simply hear His words; if we dare to embrace the things he offers to us which are better than best we can ever conceive.  

WAY BACK HOME

As I child, I used to visit my relatives to a neighboring barrio with my family. I had such a great time playing with my cousins whom I seldom see. We ran and played in our grandparents’ garden, and spent long hours day dreaming. The food was overflowing since my aunts and lola would serve dishes prepared using the family’s secret recipes. The hamonado and biko (rice cake) were one of the best. But as they say, “There is an end to everything, to good things as well.” In the evening, my mother would be looking for me as we would be going home. I do not desire to go home just yet and wanted to spend longer hours with my cousins and playmates. I would hide from her at the back of the door of my lola’s house, praying my mother would not find me. I hid well from her, so much so that it took a couple of minutes before she found me. When she found me, she would tell me it’s time to go home. “But I don’t like to go home yet.” I retorted. She would reply “If you don’t go home, I would leave you here.” The thought of not having a mother at his side was unimaginable for a child. In fear of missing my mother, I immediately grabbed her hands and bade my playmates goodbye. Then, we were on our way home.  

God wants us to be home in heaven and to be at home in his presence. However, through sins and other things which we have preoccupied ourselves with, we have moved away from him. We hide from him in our desire to continue the things we thought are the best already in the world: a flourishing career, a comfortable life directed by our own wills and plans.

The Lord knows what is best for us; what is better than the best we can ever conceive for ourselves. Thus, God searches for us. He makes the initiative for us to find our way back to him, away from sinfulness that prevents us from having the best, the real goodness, in life. What could be better than being with God who created us and knows all the longing of our hearts! Thus, we seek His mercy and forgiveness for the transgression we have committed against Him.

The mercy of God is readily available for us. After all, he is our God who is rich in mercy and who has a heart for our miseries and pains. He desires the best for us. God is simply waiting for us to return to him and admit in ourselves our sinfulness. For us to avail His mercy, it necessary for us to admit the truth about ourselves. Nothing can be given unless we admit that it is needed. The truth is a prerequisite for mercy. We must do our part so that God may find us and give us the mercy we so desire, and that our relationship with God, broken by sin, may be restored. We must admit the truth of our faults so that mercy may be conferred upon us; that we ourselves may beg for it.

The good news is, God is waiting for us. Our merciful Father is waiting for us, to embrace us, as he brings us back home.