Wed., April 20, 2011
Fr. George Knab
Gospel: Matt. 26:14-25 “One of you will betray Me”
Summary: There were two Judases who were Apostles. Both were to be the foundation stones of the Church. Both believed Jesus to be the worldly Messiah, and to use violence if necessary. Both were confused over the hostility of the people toward Jesus during His trial.
Walk on the spiritual path along with St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal into the Love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Are you a lay person interested in plunging more fully into a way of daily devotion? Or considering a vocation to the monastic Visitandine tradition? Go to Visitation Spirit website.
The difference was in the questions they asked. Judas Iscariot asked the Jewish leaders, “What will you give me if I hand Jesus over to you?” Judas Thaddeus, on the other hand, asked Jesus, “Why do you reveal this to us, and not to them?”
Judas the betrayer thought that God had abandoned Jesus, and then committed suicide. Judas the son of James, on the other hand, realized that God was with Jesus, and that Jesus took the punishment for our sins. Jude would “receive the Holy Spirit” along with the other apostles, from Jesus.
St. Jude is the patron of the hopeless, of those in desperate situations, telling us not to give up on God, to put all of our trust and confidence in God. This is so we can pass through the desperation, and hope for the future. St. Jude Thaddeus, pray for us.