Betrayal: Forgiveness or Death?

    Today's blog will deal with loving God above all else and betraying that love for the love of the world. As we approach Lent we are reminded of our sins, in that we might continue to work on them and perfect ourselves as Christ is perfected. Becoming holy as our Father in Heaven is Holy.  However that is not always the case, and for most of us, we will never achieve the level of spiritual life that even the lowest of the saints achieved. In today's scripture readings however, we see two levels of betraying Christ and what the consequences were for that betrayal.  

    In 1 John we read that, "He who does not love, abides in death." The first betrayal that is evident is those who know the truth, and completely reject it. Later in the gospel reading we are reminded of Judas Iscariot who betrayed the Lord for 30 pieces of silver, and had been with Christ since the beginning. He had lived and worked with Christ the entire time of his ministry, and yet he did not abide in the same love that Christ did. He abided in the love of money and rejected Christ for the same wealth and power that many today even in the church do.  Judas Iscariot took the money, led the guards and other leaders to the Garden and betrayed Christ with a kiss as many of us know.  Do we often times spend too much time worrying about money and power and fame? Do we spend time wondering how people will perceive us? Most if not all of us do. Judas is the prototype for this, we see that he cared for the world in a way he did not care about Christ. Judas would eventually commit suicide, overcome with worldly grief and not spiritual grief. He never sought the forgiveness that Christ would have freely given him had he simply asked for it. In the second betrayal, we will see that the one betraying cared for Christ more than this world, and yet he still caused grief.

    I am obviously talking about Simon Peter. During the Last Supper, Jesus tells Peter that he will deny him three times. Peter openly says to everyone there that he will not, though Jesus assures Peter that he will.  After Judas' betrayal in the garden, Jesus is taken before the High Priest and questioned.  While there, Peter who was with Jesus in the garden follows at a distance and gains entrance into the courtyard so that he could be with his friend. After denying Christ once, twice, three times the rooster crows. Does Peter do like Judas and hang himself? Does he immediately decide that life is not worth living because he committed atrocities like so many do today? No. Peter steadies himself, though bitterly heartbroken, he returns to the rest of disciples and witnesses the outcome of the crucifixion and ultimately the resurrection itself. Peter like so many true Christians accepts the forgiveness freely given to us by God through Christ, and Peter knew that he was called to a higher purpose. Yes he had made a horrific mistake, he had left the fold of Christ. He had lost his faith. But Peter was determined to go on. Even if Christ wouldn't accept him back, Peter would resolve to live the rest of his days in ascetical practice and love. The same love that Christ had taught him. However the story doesn't end there with Peter leaving the courtyard and weeping bitterly. Peter is then restored by Jesus after the resurrection in the same manner that he betrayed Christ. Confirming his faith three times in the presence of Jesus Christ. 

So the question today, of all days, is Betrayal: Forgiveness or Death? We all fall everyday we all sin and leave the narrow path given to us by God for our salvation. Some leave the path for a long time, others for a short time, but we all leave it. The question is, will we act like Judas, and in self pity and hatred for our actions commit self annihilation and death? Or will be like Peter, resolved to continue the fight with our fallen selves and struggle to overcome the passions? The choice my friends is clear. We must do what the saints have done. We must strive to overcome the passions and become true sons of God. 

Amen.