Our gospel readings for the past three days could very well be titled:
“A Friendship Gone Wrong.”
 
    Judas has been a follower, an apostle of Jesus throughout the gospel. He knows Jesus quite well. Like the other disciples, he understands Jesus’ teachings, his value system, his bringing good news to the Jewish people. Instead of allowing Jesus’ way of life to permeate his very being, Judas acts on his own reflexes. He does not comprehend the meaning of friendship: love, loyalty, understanding.  He uses his business acumen for purely monetary reasons. How could anyone like that woman waste precious ointment on Jesus! Like the other disciples, Judas follows Jesus. However, his perception is that Jesus will build his own empire, and his followers will have high places in it. Judas has seen Jesus work miracles. When Judas arranges to have Jesus arrested, he figures that Jesus will work another miracle and free himself. Somehow, Judas does not get the deeper message of who Jesus is, nor does he understand the real experience of friendship. Judas is not evil. He just hasn’t allowed himself to create and deepen a relationship with Jesus. Friendship is a gift; one does not gamble with a gift!
 
    In our first reading, Isaiah describes the terrible sufferings that Jesus will experience. “The Lord God is my help. I shall not be put to shame.”  The time has come for Jesus to complete his offering to his Father on our behalf. Jesus has not rebelled. He has not turned back.  As we come towards the end of the Lenten season, let’s evaluate our own experience of Jesus in our midst.
 
    Daily we hear about deadly violence in our schools and on our streets. Horrific wars continue to harm and kill innocent people: an echo of the passion and death of Jesus. If we claim friendship with Jesus, we evaluate the ways that we show that love. Jesus seeks out the sick in body and mind. He condemns selfishness and violence. If we cannot physically help people, we can write letters to our politicians to make necessary changes in laws. Justice and charity work hand in hand. Judas could have a deep and intimate friendship with Jesus, but the greed for money overpowers whatever love is in his heart. Let us spend some extra time in our own heart to heart conversation with Jesus. Friendship is a gift of truth, love, and loyalty. Let us renew our friendship with our Savior
 
“I have long believed that the way to know
a spiritual sense is to know it in our real life.
I think the best way to understand about God
and peace is to know about peace
in our everyday lives.”—Mr. Rogers