Poor Judas has been vilified throughout the centuries. Even Jesus said it would have been better for him if he had not been born. Did Jesus see the future vilification of poor Judas and lament that?
How culpable is Judas for what he did to our Lord in the betrayal. Is he any more culpable than any of us who betray Jesus over and over again through our mortal sins, our disillusionment, our love of sin rather that of Jesus?
Yes, Judas, as a result of the Original Sin of Adam and Eve, was a corrupt sinner. However, Adam and Eve’s original sin was caused, by the way, by the devil, the Archangel Lucifer, who tempted them, has disordered everything in God’s original pristine and perfect condition, humans and every thing created became disordered and tainted by the devil who knew he could tempt God’s people but not God. The devil could tempt and cause people to sin and become corrupt but not God! Remember, Satan tries that with Jesus in the desert, but Satan fails!
When we read the Gospel of John, we are told that at the betrayal the Devil enters Judas. This is something the devil did not do to Adam and Eve. He didn’t take them over by possession, he merely tempted them and they gave in. But Judas is another story—the devil possesses him.
I would contend that at that point, Judas was not culpable for anything he did as his free will was compromised by demonic possession. This then prevented Judas, after the betrayal, to feel regret and a need for repentance. Demonic possession prevents him from experiencing faith, hope and love. Completely disillusioned by demonic possession, Judas commits suicide, the ultimate act of hopelessness in the devil’s abode. But he’s possessed and thus his suicide can’t be seen as being done with full consent of the will and with forethought and planing. Even Judas’ hopelessness if a result of demonic possession!
This is the devil’s ploy, to remove the ability of Judas to wait for the resurrection, like St. Peter, and to express sorrow for his betrayal and be forgiven and reconciled by the Glorified Risen Christ. Possession has caused Judas to be devoid of faith, hope and love.
This is the delusion of Satan, he thinks that he can prevent the salvation of an apostle by possessing him.
Was the Devil wrong? Yes! Dead wrong.
On Holy Saturday, our Lord descends into hell to release all the Old Testament figures who had awaited the coming of the Messiah. But they died prior to the opening of the Gates of Heaven and were stuck in the antechamber of hell, its vestibule, if you will.
When they are released by Jesus and through His Passion and Cross, is it possible that poor Judas was there?
If so, Judas is a saint in heaven!
The spiritual battle waged by Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is against the world, the flesh and the devil. It isn’t against God’s creatures, human beings. Jesus was not warring with Judas but with the devil
He thwarted the devil as it concerns Judas. And he thwarts the devil as it concerns us.
Think about it this Holy Saturday.
Saint Judas, pray for us?
10 comments:
"I would contend that at that point, Judas was not culpable for anything he did as his free will was compromised by demonic possession. This then prevented Judas, after the betrayal, to feel regret and a need for repentance. Demonic possession prevents him from experiencing faith, hope and love. Completely disillusioned by demonic possession, Judas commits suicide, the ultimate act of hopelessness in the devil’s abode. But he’s possessed and thus his suicide can’t be seen as being done with full consent of the will and with forethought and planing."
Father, I have to admit I'm still not convinced of Judas' salvation (and I'm suspicious of what appears to be the general campaign to rehabilitate the man who betrayed our Lord for 30 pieces of silver and then, despairing, hanged himself). My suspicions being that it's backdoor universalism, and the argument of universalists runs like so: if Judas is saved, who would end up going to hell? One concern there being, if no one's going to hell, does free will or our own particular circumstances mean anything? (Father, please don't misunderstand me of accusing you of universalism; others seem to be following this line of thought).
That being said, the paragraph of yours I quoted at the beginning of my comment is a much stronger point than those "dare we hope" arguments that try to jam Judas through the tiniest of loopholes in Scripture and the Fathers to say that Judas could have been saved/his damnation is not guaranteed. Even if it does not convince me to say Judas might be in heaven, it does provide a salient point: possession mitigates free will and thereby mitigates culpability. Whether there is culpability in making oneself susceptible to possession, and if so, how much such culpability attaches to Judas, is beyond my powers.
A blessed Triduum to one and all.
Nick
But John’s Gospel and only John’s Gospel, declares that at the Last Supper, the devil entered into Judas. That is clearly the highest form of demonic possession.
"But John’s Gospel and only John’s Gospel, declares that at the Last Supper, the devil entered into Judas. That is clearly the highest form of demonic possession."
I think it is FAR too great a stretch to equate "...the devil entered into Judas..." with possession. The devil is in all of us whenever we sin. Your conclusion also seems not to take into account Judas' repentance "I have sinned in betraying innocent blood'" (Mt 27: 3-4).
On Judas Pope Benedict's reflection is quite good: https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/audiences/2006/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20061018.html
As for the ultimate fate of Judas, the question seems to be open. Msgr. Stephen Rossetti: "While the Church has never named anyone as definitively being in hell, Jesus himself said of Judas, “It would be better for that man if he had never been born” (Mt 26:24). Apparently, Judas despaired of God’s mercy and hung himself. If only he had turned to Jesus in true repentance, he would have been saved. If my experience is accurate, Judas has been lost."
I wonder if Father K is going to declare Easter a “Day of Transgender Visibility” at his parish to stay in good standing with his lunatic political party?
Interesting that this has been brought up, Father McDonald. According to the video below by Fr. Carlos Martens, director of the Treasures of the Church (who is currently heading a tour with a first class relic of St. Jude the Apostle) believes Judas was saved. The video is long (excellent information on St. Jude), but it is incredibly interesting. Wonderful miracles reported!
https://www.youtube.com/live/VTFWR8O4JJw?si=m5DUjGIdmpZ4q1kb
The Democratic Party is a Satanic Cult supported by many bishops and priests. Enjoy Hell!
Thanks Catechist Kev for posting the video with the wealth of information on St. Jude. Interesting perspective by Fr. Martens on Jesus calling Judas “friend” in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Sure thing, Mister Dave!
You’re most welcome and happy Easter to you and yours. 😃
Father Allan,
This is a bit off topic, but I only recently came across the Ancient Homily for Holy Saturday cited in CCC 635 that explicitly mentions Adam and Eve being freed from the prison of hell.
Thanks Kev for the warm wishes. Happy Easter to you and your loved ones.
https://edwardfeser.blogspot.com/2024/03/wishful-thinking-for-judas.html#more
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