Lent Day 25: Saturday after the Third Sunday in Lent — Judas’s Repentance.

Judas’s Repentance.

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Read St. Matthew xxvii.  3-16.

 [3] Then Judas, who betrayed him, seeing that he was condemned, repenting himself, brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and ancients, [4] Saying: I have sinned in betraying innocent blood. But they said: What is that to us? look thou to it. [5] And casting down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed: and went and hanged himself with an halter.

[6] But the chief priests having taken the pieces of silver, said: It is not lawful to put them into the corbona*, because it is the price of blood. [7] And after they had consulted together, they bought with them the potter’ s field, to be a burying place for strangers. [8] For this cause the field was called Haceldama, that is, The field of blood, even to this day. [9] Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet, saying: And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was prized, whom they prized of the children of Israel. [10] And they gave them unto the potter’ s field, as the Lord appointed to me.

[11] And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, saying: Art thou the king of the Jews? Jesus saith to him: Thou sayest it. [12] And when he was accused by the chief priests and ancients, he answered nothing. [13] Then Pilate saith to him: Dost not thou hear how great testimonies they allege against thee? [14] And he answered him to never a word; so that the governor wondered exceedingly. [15] Now upon the solemn day the governor was accustomed to release to the people one prisoner, whom they would.

[16] And he had then a notorious prisoner, that was called Barabbas.

1.  When Judas heard the unanimous voice of the chief priests and ancients declaring that Jesus was guilty of death, his soul was filled with a black remorse that made his life intolerable.  How he hated the miserable pieces of silver for which he had sold his Master!  How he hated the chief priests who had bribed him!  How he hated himself!  The sweetness and gentleness of Christ came vividly before him, and only added to his misery, as it will add to the misery of the lost at the day of judgment.  How bitterly he repented his folly!  At least he would rid himself of the accursed money and declare his guilt.  But he had gone too far.  He had refused so often to listen to the voice of Jesus that now his hardened heart refused to melt.  What a warning to all who turn a deaf ear to the voice of conscience!

2.  Yet he might have been forgiven even now if he had thrown himself at Jesus’ feet and begged for pardon.  But this he would not do.  His repentance was a hopeless, black remorse — no element of hope or love or humble sorrow.  It was the repentance of the lost in hell, who cry, “Fools that we were!” but yet will not, cannot, humble themselves to cry for mercy.

3.  How miserable Judas had been from the first!  Had those pilfered gains in early days brought him solid satisfaction?  Had he been happy when he sacrificed his Master’s interests to his own?  Are we happy when we knowingly prefer our own selfish interests to those of Christ?  Sin and misery are twin sisters.  My God, may I never willfully betray Thy interests to my own pleasure or gain!

Note to verse 6:  [6] Corbona: A place in the temple where the people put in their gifts or offerings.

 


This article, Lent Day 25: Saturday after the Third Sunday in Lent — Judas’s Repentance. is a post from The Bellarmine Forum.
https://bellarmineforum.org/devotional/the-catholic-daily/lent-meditations-preface-information/lent-day-25-saturday-third-sunday-lent-judass-repentance/
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