March 21, 2019

Thursday after the Second Sunday in Lent

While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; but Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?” Luke 22: 47-48

What a stunning observation and judgment from our Lord—the kiss, love’s symbol of affection and intimacy, twisted into betrayal. This kiss marks the moment of Judas’s spiral into his self-made ending, his descent into the horrors of his remorse and suicide. There must be no sweetening up of Judas’s legacy as the Gnostic Gospel of Judas wishes to do. No! Evil is evil. If there were ever an unforgivable sin against the Holy Spirit, this infamous kiss might qualify.

And—not “but” or “nevertheless”— and Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, yes for Judas’s kiss, for my kisses of betrayal.

God, in the gracious mystery of his magnanimity, not only forgives sins, he also died for our sins. The church has struggled to approach comprehension of the impossible possibility of the extent of His grace, where substitutionary sacrifice is at the heart of the matter. Thus, when I think of Judas’s kiss of betrayal I must think of Christ dying for the sins of all. Jesus returns good for evil precisely as He commanded us to do. Even in duly chastising us on the day of judgment, would He who commands us to return good for evil, do any less?

The words of Robert Buchanan’s Ballad of Judas Iscariot come to mind. I cite its last verses at the end of the poem’s descriptions of the remorseful agonies Judas suffered.

“’Twas the Bridegroom stood at the open door, and beckon’d, smiling sweet;
‘Twas the soul of Judas Iscariot stole in, and fell at his feet.
‘The Holy Supper is spread within, and the many candles shine,
And I have waited long for thee before I poured the wine!’
The supper wine is poured at last, the lights burn bright and fair,
Iscariot washes the Bridegroom’s feet, and dries them with his hair.”
(From Miscellaneous Poems and Ballads, 1878-83, Robert Buchanan)

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of your grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

The Reverend Dr. Sandy McCurdy
Saint David’s, Radnor