—For it is written in the Book of Psalms:
May another take his office.

How many could have been Judas? That’s an interesting question isn’t it? Could Peter have betrayed Jesus? How about the Sons of Thunder, James and John, could they have betrayed Jesus? What about the others, the twelve, the seventy-two?

Peter was always quick to jump the gun. He had all sorts of plans laid out for Jesus —“ and expectations too. Jesus even called him Satan:

Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

James and John wanted to sit at Jesus’ right and left hand in His glory and they didn’t get what they wanted:

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
—What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
“We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

The other ten were mad at James and John when this happened.

Couldn’t any of the disciples or Apostles have been Judas? Why was one so maddened with rage while the others, who could have been just as angry, learned a little bit about subduing their expectations?

Perhaps they learned that Jesus did not come to make life comfortable for anyone. He did not come to fulfill our expectations, but to call us to fulfill God’s expectations.

Jesus certainly opened the doors to heaven. He certainly reconciled us to the Father. He certainly showed us what being truly human was all about. He was able to do this because He, in His unity, is God and man. He is fully both.

The key is that Jesus is the way. He is the way to God, the way to heaven, the way we must follow to become fully human, to become so human that we may come to the Father in truth. He did so much for us, but we have to act. John tells us:

Moreover, we have seen and testify
that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God remains in him and he in God.

Listen again,

Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God remains in him and he in God.

Amazing stuff, but you have to focus on acknowledging. Acknowledging is more than the occasional nod toward God at Christmas and Easter. Acknowledging God is more than the weekly trek to the parish church. Acknowledging means we must fully commit and act.

Jesus calls us to reach beyond our complacency and comfort. First, we must fall in sorrow for our sins. Then, we must repent, and in the act of repentance, commit to change. The constant struggle is the fight against temptation and the call of the world: ‘hey it’s easy, just do it, it feels good, and it’s what I want’

But Jesus tells us:

“I gave them your word, and the world hated them,
because they do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world.”

We have the word of Jesus. We have His command and His way of life.

We, have a lot to do.

Bishop Hodur told us that very few will reach perfection on the road toward Christ —“ at least in this earthly life. What is most important is that we commit to that road, that we take the first step in a journey of a thousand miles. The tests along the road and the pitfalls are many, and if met with Christ within us and at our side, will make us stronger. The body and blood of Jesus Christ is our food for this journey.

I tell you then, be a disciple of Christ. Be His followers and His doers. Do not let anger or despair turn you into a Judas, a man or woman of broken expectations. Keep your eyes here, front and center. Raise your eyes up to heaven and put your minds and bodies to work.

Any one of us can be Judas. Therefore, consider carefully and place yourselves on the road, walking in the footsteps of the faithful, the communion of saints. Take the place of the one who went his own way, as so many do today, because Jesus told us:

—I consecrate myself for them,
so that they also may be consecrated in truth.—

Jesus Christ has consecrated you in truth. Acknowledge Him and act on it.

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