“Then one of the Twelve [disciples], who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I deliver Him to you?’ And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him [Jesus].” Matthew 26: 14-16

Always, we read these verses from Matthew’s Gospel with great shock and sorrow. How could Judas betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver? What was he thinking?

In our minds, we know that the betrayal of Christ was foretold by the ancient prophets:

“Then I said to them, ‘If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.’ And they weighed out as my wages 30 shekels of silver. Then the Lord said to me, ‘Cast it into the treasury — the lordly price at which I was paid off by them.'” Zechariah 11: 12-13

The betrayal of Jesus is even more humiliating because Judas was one of Jesus’ Twelve disciples:

“Even my bosom friend in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, has lifted his heel against Me.” Psalm 41: 9

Why did the betrayal come from one of Jesus’ chosen disciples?

We know that every single word in the Bible — and every act and teaching of Jesus — is divinely inspired. Jesus knew that the shock of Judas’ betrayal would compel us to stop and think about the times that we ourselves have betrayed Him — in thought or deed, in ways big and small, and for countless reasons. The fact that Judas was a close companion of Jesus stands as a warning for all of us — we must always remain on guard against words and actions that betray and cast aside the Love of Jesus.

The Mercy of Jesus is so vast. Still today, Jesus stands between us and the Father and cries out:

“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23: 34

Jesus’ Love for us is equally vast. Only we can choose to separate ourselves from His Love. There is nothing else in all of Creation — not life, nor death, nor angels or principalities, nor things present or to come, nor height, nor depth, nor powers — that can separate us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8: 38-39)

As each new day dawns, Jesus waits quietly for us, offering us the chance to begin anew, together. (Lamentation 3: 22-24)

And so we pray: Dearest Guardian Angels, please stay near to us. Help us to not say or think or do things that offend the Mercy and Love of Jesus. Help us to hope always in Jesus; and to draw nearer and nearer to Him with each new day. Amen.