2128AFC070921 – The Heart of the Matter
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A pile of keys outside an antique shop in Eton.
Mark 6:7, 12-13 – 7 He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 12 So they [The Twelve] went out and proclaimed that all should repent. 13 They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
John 13:1-2a – 1 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him.
John 13:30 – 30 So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
E pili mau na pomaika‘i ia ‘oe a me ke akua ho’omaika‘i ‘oe, ʻŌmea! (May blessing always be with you and may God bless you, Beloved!) I will begin today by asserting that it is an overwhelmingly powerful Grace that calls us away from a life of sin to a Life of Service. What a blessing it is to be numbered among the Disciples even after many centuries. When I reflect on events like we will hear about this Sunday – the first dispatch of Christ’s followers into the first mission of revival – I just wish that we really could take a look back in time and see what it was really like. While we do have “contemporaneous concomitance” (↔ Click Link) to think about, there certainly are some reasonable conclusions we can come to without too much drain on the brain. Take a look at the passage up there from Mark. Take notice that it says, “The Twelve.”
The twelve went out, the twelve came back. I imagine they were a bit dubious when they set out (can you imagine Peter and Thomas being paired off and going out to spread the Gospel?), but by the time they got back they were hopping with excitement. “Jesus, you should see what happened in Beth-Shemesh.” “Aw, James, that’s nothing! Wait ’til you hear what Judas and I did in Chorazin!” I can just see Jesus’ gentle smile wrinkling the corners of his eyes as he listened to their account. Wisely, he called them away for a little rest so they could unwind and talk themselves out enough to realize what an extraordinary blessing they had received by blessing others with the Power of the Living Word of God. I’ve been there, done that, got the T-shirt – and I can’t wait to go back! There’s nothing like seeing a stony heart melt into tender flesh as the Love of Christ takes hold through the Holy Spirit.
Now, did you catch the little unexpected clue in that account? Hint: Who went to Chorazin?
That’s good work, ʻŌmea. Judas was one of The Twelve. Judas was one of the first missionaries for Christ. Judas was someone Jesus called “friend.” Yes, that Judas was the same guy that hung himself three years later. WHAT HAPPENED TO Judas? Here’s where the Key Verse image for today provides another hint. When you see that many keys, it means there’s going to be nearly that many Scriptures presented (who made that groan?).
Let’s begin with another Key Verse from John 13: The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas … to betray him. Sometime, somehow, somewhere between their starting place (perhaps Bethany?) and the location of the Cenacle, Judas slipped out of the role of Disciple and into the role of betrayer, and it happened in his heart. We’ve commented in the past about the importance of “first mention” in Scripture as the establishment of a “type,” something that points to further development of a biblical concept. The first mention of “heart” is in Genesis 6:5 – 5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. Do you remember what happened after that? Noah and his family built, stocked, and sailed in the Ark. Eight people survived that; no one else did; the Ark was closed (↔ Click Link) to all but the righteous. As for the “impure of heart,” THEY DIED. So did Judas, “he went off and hanged himself,” and it seems perhaps the body wasn’t discovered for a time because in Acts 1:17-18 we read Luke’s “autopsy report” saying 17 for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong [swelling up], he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. Let’s just refresh our memories about that, please.
Matthew 27:1-10 –1 Early in the morning all the chief priests and the elders of the people reached the decision to have Jesus put to death. 2 They bound him, led him away, and turned him over to Pilate the governor.
3 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 4 said, “I did wrong because I betrayed an innocent man.”
But they said, “What is that to us? That’s your problem.” 5 Judas threw the silver pieces into the temple and left. Then he went and hanged himself.
6 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.” 7 So they decided to use it to buy the potter’s field where strangers could be buried. 8 That’s why that field is called “Field of Blood” to this very day. 9 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, 10 and I gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me. Common English Bible (CEB) Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
* Judas did not repent, he felt regret – metamelomai met-am-el’-lom-ahee. Properly understood it means to experience a change of concern after a change of emotion and usually implying to regret, i.e. falling into emotional remorse afterwards. He did not repent. He did not seek and accept forgiveness. He “solved his problem” his way. He took the coward’s way of suicide. The Apostle John does not use the word metanoia – the 180º turnabout we call repentance in his Gospel referring to Judas’ death. He says Judas felt regret. Jesus knew how all this would turn out, and – although the actual details were obscure – all of Israel knew that the Messiah would come and would be betrayed by one considered a friend. That’s where Judas’ actions tie in with Sunday’s first reading where God calls Amos to prophesy and Amaziah, Priest of Bethel, kicks him out of town.
Amos blasts Israel – especially the Northern Kingdom – for their intolerance, lack of true justice in their religion, and the corruption of the government. For Amaziah he delivers this in Amos 7:17 – Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Your wife shall become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be parceled out by line; you yourself shall die in an unclean land, and Israel shall surely go into exile away from its land.’” Prophesy is always the Word of the Lord spoken to the People of the Lord calling them to obedience for the sake of his benediction. Disobedience always brings condemnation and correction. Think back to what we saw in Acts 1:17-18 – [Judas] was allotted his share in this ministry. Now we combine the prophecy in Psalm 41:9 – 9 Even my bosom friend in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, has lifted the heel against me with John 13:18 (↔ Click Link for full context) – 18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfill the scripture, ‘The one who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’; here we see the uniformity of prophecy. “As it is spoken, so let it be done.” Personal grief – regret – is not repentance. Here is something from the Apostle Paul to clarify that: 2 Corinthians 7:10 – 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death.
Ephesians 1:3-7 – 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. 5 He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.
Let us look, therefore, at word of prophecy from the Lord himself: Matthew 18:6 – 6 As for whoever causes these little ones who believe in me to trip and fall into sin, it would be better for them to have a huge stone [millstone*] hung around their necks and be drowned in the bottom of the lake. Common English Bible (CEB) Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible. The one who entices another to sin instead of correcting them or catching them as they fall is complicit in the sin committed plus commits the sin of merciless abandonment. Here is an outcome of that sort of sin as explained quite clearly in 1 Corinthians 11:27-32 – 27 This is why those who eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord inappropriately will be guilty of the Lord’s body and blood. 28 Each individual should test himself or herself, and eat from the bread and drink from the cup in that way. 29 Those who eat and drink without correctly understanding the body are eating and drinking their own judgment. 30 Because of this, many of you are weak and sick, and quite a few have died. 31 But if we had judged ourselves, we wouldn’t be judged. 32 However, we are disciplined by the Lord when we are judged so that we won’t be judged and condemned along with the whole world. Common English Bible (CEB) Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible. If you, if I, if we, if they receive communion while in a state of mortal sin (like publically advocating capital punishment, abortion, eugenics, euthanasia, sexual deviance, and other illicit acts) – they are condemned, but the person(s) enabling that sin are complicit in their condemnation. THAT is some heavy sin, heavy as a *millstone tied around one’s neck. Judas sat down at table with Jesus ready to betray him. Was he there for the institution of the Eucharist? Did he “receive unworthily?” I’ll let you read the Gospel account and make your own decision. I’ve made mine.
Luke 22:14-23 – 14 When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21 But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. 22 For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!” 23 Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this.
“Honestly, Chick! All you ever do is rant about repentance! Can’t you think of anything else to write about?” Until God stops talking about it, I am bound to keep saying it. Am I the one with my hand on the table? Have we taken the Body and Blood treacherously as a betrayal of his Love? Have we allowed, encouraged, or permitted others to sin? I tell you from inside my deepest soul that if my Pastor had clear evidence of my living in mortal sin and did not offer Reconciliation or did not refuse me the Eucharist if I rejected Reconciliation, I would expect him to stop me for the sake of my soul and his. The prophecy against treachery may apply to all who partake of God’s mercies, and meet them with ingratitude.
Think of the two sons in the parable in Matthew. One says he will go to the fields, but does not. The other refuses, but goes. Matthew 21:29 – 29 He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. What is stopping us from changing our minds about changing the World? Remember this: Matthew 21:32 – 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him. Here’s a little musical prayer to make your heart all better. It’s called “Into My Heart.” (↔ Music Link) We must invite Jesus in, not allow Satan in. It is, after all, not what but Who is in our heart that matters so the heart of the matter is that we must choose to repent and believe (and share!) the Gospel. Please add this to your daily prayers:
Jesus, Meek and Humble of Heart, make my heart like unto your heart.”
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever —
at your service, Belovéd!
Please pray with us here at Share-a-Prayer.
Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture passages are from the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Biblical languages inserts from Bible Hub (Bible Hub: Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages) Visit at http://biblehub.com
Aloha Friday Messages by Charles O. Todd, III is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License
