That's Your Problem

The failure of religious leaders.

Today is the 13th Sunday after Pentecost. Blessed Sunday to you as you gather with the Body of Christ wherever you’re at today.

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Judas’ story is profoundly tragic.

It’s not completely clear why Judas did what he did. Some elements of the gospel make it a personified evil-directed happening, akin to “the devil made me do it” (Jesus’ words even lean this way). The gospel of John makes Judas out to be a greedy thief. These two emphases can be coexistent.

But Matthew’s gospel gives more details than do the others, particularly Judas’ attempt to repent. In the totality of Jesus’ gospel message, repentance is exactly what God is seeking from people, regardless of the gravity of their sin. From what we can tell in Matthew’s progression of the story, Jesus was still alive when Judas repented. Some people repent in secret, with no attempt to recoup their sinfulness. But Judas tried to reverse the course of his betrayal - returning the money and noting Jesus’ innocence. It is this statement from Judas - that Jesus was innocent - that makes many believe he was not trying to betray Jesus into arrest or death, but to force Jesus’ hand in vanquishing Rome and redeeming Israel.

Nonetheless, regardless of Judas’ reasons for repenting, it appears to be a heartfelt, sincere attempt to repent.

And the religious leaders denied him.

Can you imagine someone going to a pastor or priest today and asking what it takes to be forgiven for sin and that minister of the gospel saying, “Sorry, you’re on your own…see to it yourself.” (Yes, these were Jewish rabbis and priests, but they still played a significant role in the absolution of sin. It was just a couple of chapters back in which we read Jesus’ words about these guys.)

It’s tragic.

…and yet such things happen. Religious leaders of all sorts have great capacity to shape and form communities and even the world. And with such great capacity for good comes significant potential to do harm.

Such things have been chronicled in recent years in both Catholic and Protestant circles alike. Most often centered around sinfulness of an abusive sexual nature, religious leaders have demonstrated incredible disdain for the righteousness and justice of God, both during the perpetuation of sin and after its exposure.

The tragedy of Judas is not only that he betrayed Jesus but that, when he finally saw his sin for what it was, he turned to the wrong people for absolution. That reality is both heart-breaking and body-shuddering when one thinks of all the children, youth, and adults alike who may be under the care of terrible “Christian” leadership.

Judas’ priests dismissed him. He had no community to bear him up, no gospel-preacher to remind him of mercy. Imagine if he had gone back to the disciples and they had welcomed him. Alas, they too were scattered at the moment.

And so despair swallowed Judas. His story warns us not to despair of God’s grace. And it warns the Church never to withhold grace from those who seek it. Because the love of Christ, unlike the words Judas heard from those leaders, will never say, “See to it yourself.”

Matthew 17:1-20

Early in the morning all the chief priests and the elders of the people reached the decision to have Jesus put to death. They bound him, led him away, and turned him over to Pilate the governor.

When Judas, who betrayed Jesus, saw that Jesus was condemned to die, he felt deep regret. He returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, and said, “I did wrong because I betrayed an innocent man.”

But they said, “What is that to us? That’s your problem.” Judas threw the silver pieces into the temple and left. Then he went and hanged himself.

The chief priests picked up the silver pieces and said, “According to the Law it’s not right to put this money in the treasury. Since it was used to pay for someone’s life, it’s unclean.” So they decided to use it to buy the potter’s field where strangers could be buried. That’s why that field is called “Field of Blood” to this very day. This fulfilled the words of Jeremiah the prophet: And I took the thirty pieces of silver, the price for the one whose price had been set by some of the Israelites, and I gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.

Psalm 130:1-4

I cry out to you from the depths, Lord—my Lord, listen to my voice! Let your ears pay close attention to my request for mercy! If you kept track of sins, Lord—my Lord, who would stand a chance? But forgiveness is with you—that’s why you are honored.

Prayer

God,

Keep us from despair and silence when we fall short, and keep your Church from closing its doors to those who are seeking justice & righteousness. Help us trust that your mercy is always greater than sin.

By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.