November 18

The Traitor’s Kiss

Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. — Matt 26:49 BSB

The mere reading of these words makes us shudder. A kiss is meant to be a sign of affection and a pledge of loyalty. Judas’s kiss to Jesus was a solemn pretense of friendship. Yet the kiss was not only false, it was the signal of betrayal. No words are strong enough to describe this crime. We might think of the fable of the poisonous snake taken in by a kind man to be warmed, only to bite the man who saved it. But even this does not capture the depth of Judas’s treachery. It’s no wonder that Judas is condemned by history. A poet once imagined him as placed in the lowest circles of hell, sharing the uttermost punishment with Satan himself, shunned even by the guiltiest.

In reflecting on Judas’s character and sin, we can draw out these lessons:

1. We should not be surprised if some bad people enter the Church, for even among the twelve disciples was a Judas.
2. The presence of hypocrites among Christians does not disprove Christianity. Judas’s betrayal didn’t stain Christ’s name, nor did it negate the loyalty of the other disciples.
3. Proximity to Christ does not guarantee a transformed character. Judas spent three years with Jesus, hearing His words and living in His love, yet he remained unchanged. Just as a sealed bottle can float in the ocean without being filled, so can a heart remain sealed off from Christ’s love, even in His presence. Only when we open our hearts to His grace does closeness to Christ transform us.
4. Sin grows. We never know how far a sinful thought or desire may lead if left unchecked.