The Holy Priest-Martyr Eleutherius; Our Venerable Father Paul of Latra (956); Our Holy Father Stephen the Confessor, Archbishop of Surozh (8th century).
Nativity Fast. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.
Hebrews 7:18-25; Luke 21:37-22:8.
Read Luke 21:37-22:8
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
The Jewish leaders were seeking how to put Jesus to death because they envied and hated him. Judas on the other hand was a disciple of Christ and a trusted one since he was one of the 12 and given the money box to oversee. How did he fall into such an abysmal state where he became the instrument of Satan? When we look at his life in the Gospels we notice that Judas had an love for money, not only a talent for financial organization. Not only did he love money more than God, but he would steal from the money box thinking no one would ever find out—little did he know that people two thousand years later, all over the world, would know about his terrible sin. It must have been his day off when the Lord preached: “Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.” (Luke 12:2-3).
St. Cyril of Alexandria says, “What was this many-headed serpent’s invention? It says, “He entered Judas Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve.” Why did he not rather enter blessed Peter, James, John, or some other of the rest of the apostles? Why Judas Iscariot? What did Satan find in him? Satan could not approach any of those we have mentioned here, because their heart was steadfast and their love to Christ immovable. There was a place for Satan in the traitor. The bitter disease of greed, which the blessed Paul says is the root of all evil,” had overpowered him. Satan is crafty in working evil. Whenever he gains possession of anyone’s soul, he does not attack him by means of general vice. He rather searches for that particular passion that has power over him and by its means makes him his prey.” (Commentary on Luke, Homily 140).
Poor Judas, but so many other Christians have suffered similar fates. When we love something of this world more than Christ we are setting ourselves up for utter failure. Not only do we miss the mark spiritually, but the enemy of humanity will use that against us for our own demise. May the Lord forbid this from happening in our lives. Let’s keep our hearts and minds on Jesus and not be distracted by the things of this world.
Bible References