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One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief
priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him
over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that
time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over. Matthew
26:14–16
The desire for money can become a powerful incentive to betray our
Lord. In this Gospel passage, it seems clear that Judas’ betrayal
was based on his desire for money. He most likely had some level of
faith in our Lord, or he wouldn’t have become His disciple. But
even if Judas did have some level of faith, his desire for money
appeared to overshadow the faith he may have had.
One of the central lessons we can learn from Judas is that the
desire for money is a powerful incentive for the decisions we make.
So many of the great saints have taught us that the path to
holiness consists, first, in a purification of all our disordered
affections. And since one of the most powerful attachments that
many struggle with is an attachment to money, this is an important
desire to purify in all of our lives.
It’s true that material possessions are not evil when they are used
for the fulfillment of God’s will. But the desire for more, for an
excess, will always cloud our ability to see clearly the will of
God and live for His glory alone.
Once Judas had betrayed our Lord and Jesus was arrested, recall
that Judas “deeply regretted what he had done.” And during Jesus’
trial, Judas went back to the chief priests and said “I have sinned
in betraying innocent blood” in an apparent attempt to stop the
trial. But Jesus’ death was set in motion and could not be stopped.
As a result, Judas returned the money and sadly went off to hang
himself (See Matthew 27:3–5).
The desire Judas had for money clouded his thinking. And his sin
did to him what sin always does. As soon as his sin of betrayal was
done, Judas saw the consequences of that choice. And the
consequences grieved him deeply. He learned that choosing sin ends
with an empty promise. He realized that thirty pieces of silver was
not worth the value of his soul. But of course, even then Judas
could have repented and received the mercy of God. But he didn’t.
He simply ended his life in ultimate despair.
Reflect, today, upon the witness of Judas. Use him as a source of
meditation and self-examination this Holy Week. What is it in your
life that you desire more than our Lord? What temptation clouds
your thinking and leads you to choices that you know will end in
emptiness? Strive to eradicate every disordered desire within you
this day and choose wisely the will of God instead. Do not let
yourself continue to believe the lies that keep you from making
Jesus and His holy will the one and only focus of your
life.
My divine Lord, You and You alone must become the focus of my
life. You and You alone are of the greatest value in life. Help me
to shed all earthly desires in life so that I will not fall into
the temptations that lead to empty promises and so that I will
embrace the true and fulfilling promises that come from You. Jesus,
I trust in You.
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