By Ishongkun Kurbah csc –
Readings: Is 42:1-7; Jn 12:1-11
What is really surprising in this gospel passage is to know that Jesus included Judas, a thief and corrupt person in his circle of apostles, and even made him an in-charge of money matters. If Jesus knew that Judas was a thief and had misused the common money for his own selfish purposes, why didn’t Jesus dismiss him from the group?
As we are in the season of Lent, it is time to reflect upon the love and mercy of God. Out of his love and mercy, Christ came to seek sinners and not only the righteous. The heavenly Father surely knew about Judas’s character and yet gave him the opportunity to change, mend his life and repent. It could be that Judas never opened his heart to
understand Jesus and his purpose.
It can possibly happen in our life too. We may go to the Church and attend Mass regularly, we may pray and read Bible often, but we may fail to become a true Christian in our words and deeds. Everything just becomes a ritual and an external pious practice if we do not allow Christ
to touch and enter our lives.
When Russia started invading Ukraine and as the fight escalated, I asked myself, how could Russia, a Christian orthodox country wage war on Ukraine, another Christian country? It is hard to digest. It may be possible that they never understood the teachings of Christ.
In this Holy Week, it is essential for us Catholics to reflect and be fully open to the unconditional love and mercy of God manifesting through Christ so that we can change and become better Christians every day.