Pope Benedict describes the betrayer as a sycophant.
"[...] a sycophant who bows down before the anonymous power of changing moods and current fashion." Not a 'master of evil' or some scary, demoniacal figure. - Benedict XVII agree. He goes on to point out that Judas felt let down by Jesus - because he expected something different from him. This too works in with my meditation from yesterday.
We envy and seek revenge because we don't get what we want - because we are not recognized and appreciated to the degree we imagine we deserve. I'm like that.
How can I repair?
The cup of salvation I will raise ...
I will call on the Lord's name.
This morning I reminded myself of how St. Francis had many Masses said as he recovered from his illness and went through his conversion. Conversion is ongoing - it isn't confined to a moment, or an experience, hence we can never rest on those signal graces, thinking of ourselves as having arrived or as something we won, or achieved, even as something which sets us apart. "From my hidden faults save me!"
Those of us who aren't priests, or may not be able to attend Mass every day, much less able to afford to have Masses offered - we can still participate in the saving action, we can still offer the cup of salvation in atonement and reparation. We can spiritually unite ourselves to Christ's saving action in the Eucharist - the memorial of his Passion.
We can also offer the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, which is analogous to the Holy Sacrifice, since we offer the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ to the Father - incessantly. That is what takes place at Mass, that is what priests throughout the world do when they offer Mass. We can participate in that - in our prayer; the Office, Lectio, aspirations which help us to recollect ourselves throughout the day, and very simply, in the prayers of the chaplet.
Then of course, there is Our Lady's rosary. What if we prayed many rosaries as Our Lady instructed Bl. Francisco Marto to do? What if we prayed the Divine Mercy chaplet incessantly as our Lord instructed St. Faustina to do?
Today I pray for all the people I've treated unjustly, unkindly, and insincerely - to please 'management' or people I wanted to impress and gain favor with.
"Perhaps he is (Judas) jealous of any intimate relationship Jesus has that does not include him. This jealousy and revolt against a gentle, loving Jesus pave the way for the devil to enter his heart. Satan then can take over and inspire Judas to betray Jesus and hand him over." - Jean Vanier
* Jacques Fesch (April 6, 1930, Saint-Germain-en-Laye – October 1, 1957, La Santé Prison, Paris) was the murderer of a French police officer, who became such a devout Roman Catholic while in prison awaiting execution that he has been proposed for canonization as a saint.
