Shadows

When Our Lord was at table in the Upper Room with His disciples, there, in the midst was the one who would betray him. That betrayal continues to this very night. The suffering endured by Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane is continued on these very days. Shadows have descended upon the disciples. Tenebrae. Shadows and darkness have descended upon us, too. We know from scripture, "strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered." We know from scripture that "false prophets" will preach to the people and lead many astray.

We have been told that Judas was misunderstood and that the priests and bishops of his day, the High Priests, the Sanhedrin, treated him harshly, they caused him to kill himself because they lacked mercy. Judas committed his crime out of pride and the lust for power. He was a thief and a criminal long before the betrayal in Gethsemane. Like Judas, there are those today that "kiss" the Lord, only to betray him.

Every one of us must resist. Not one of us must submit the the Judases, the Scribes and the Pharisees of today who twist truth into a lie and turn upside down, two-thousand years of doctrine and faith. Those who have done this and continue to do it will suffer the fate of Judas. Those, in the Church, who have used intimidation, threats, coercion and deceit against faithful Catholics for speaking the truth to power will suffer the fate of Judas, lest they repent and amend their lives. 

They will be confounded by the Lord for their actions against Him and against His flock. They will not go forward justified, they will be held to account for what they have done. Will they be like Judas who denied God the joy of giving unto Judas his mercy? Had Judas gone to the tree on which Christ died, rather than the tree on which he hung himself with a halter, he would be a Saint today. He would be St. Judas the Penitent, instead of the one whom "should never have been born." Those who have conspired to undermine the faith should never have been born. Without their repentance they will suffer the same fate as that betrayer in the Garden.

I give great thanks to all of you who read this blog, for your prayers and your commentary. As we now embark on the Holy Triduum, there will be no writing. Only commemorations of the days and words of scripture. 

May the Lord bless you abundantly. May you be filled with silence, prayer, contemplation and grace these Holy Days.

Our work will resume soon enough.