Mt 26:14-25
14One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand [Jesus] over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, 16and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.
17On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The teacher says, “My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.” ’ ” 19The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.
20When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. 21And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” 23He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. 24The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” 25Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.”
One of you will betray me. We have often felt betrayed by friends, loved ones, and trusted people. Betrayal is both sad and painful, not so much for the act itself but for the trust shattered and the friendship threatened.
A friend once asked to speak with me. As soon as I entered his car, he started to weep and shake like a child. And his story was simple: he felt betrayed by his own parents who listened to their son-in-law even before they asked him, their only son. His cries were deep and his tears were real.
We can feel betrayed only by our loved ones and those we trust. Yet, in the end, love and trust can overcome the pain and the sadness. Our love and the long years of friendship will rise above the betrayal. Love will seek and reach out to the betrayer.
Understanding will free us. Forgiveness will help us rise above the regrettable betrayal and see it as perhaps just a call for attention.