Lent Reflection, Day 34, April 8

Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?”
Luke 22:48

Additional Reading: Matthew 26:47-50

Jesus calls Judas ‘friend’. At the height of his betrayal. At the moment in their relationship most crippled with Judas’ sin, Jesus calls him friend. He is throwing a drowning man a rope. He reminds Judas of their friendship as a motive to keep Judas from a sin that will have no remedy. It’s a life-line. It’s a last chance to turn around. To repent of what he’s about to do.

“With a kiss, Judas? Do you betray me, Judas, with a sign of affection?” And Jesus throws him another cord of kindness. It’s another freighted saying. It asks “Do you remember, Judas, when the affection you showed me was sincere and honest and full of good will? Do you remember what that love was like? Do you remember when you kissed me with adoration and not as you do now, with soiled motives and cold-heartedness? With a kiss, Judas?”

It comes like a stab to my heart, and I wonder: “How often I am Judas, betraying Jesus with a kiss!? Little betrayals. And bigger ones too. Cloaking my betrayal under a veil of church activity or good works. Publicly obedient and privately reckless and careless. Publicly pious and yet internally poisoned by selfish agendas and disobedience.

And then I hear him call me ‘friend’ and I take heart. He has not given up on me. He is throwing me a rope called forgiveness and a cord called repentance. And he pulls himself to me once more. His undying affection for me is a kiss for my soul. An embrace of love that keeps loving me even when I drift away into myself. A love that keeps coming up with last chances for old friends.

Prayer: Kind Father, thank you for a love that will not let me go. Strengthen me to never presume upon it again. And remember me with grace when I do. Amen.