Peter and Judas in the hour of trial

Looking back “Put out into the deep” Jesus’ first encounter with peter Lk 5.3-11 “Put out into the deep” “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord” “Do not be afraid, henceforth you will be catching men”

“And Judas iscariot, who betrayed him” Mk 3.19 “And he appointed twelve to be with him and to be sent out to preach, and to have authority to cast out demons” Mk 3.13 “And Judas iscariot, who betrayed him” Mk 3.19

Jesus’ passover- The new covenent “... Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” Jn 13.1

The hour of trial Jesus was troubled in spirit, and testified, “Truly truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me” Jn 13.21

Judas giving himself over to darkness Is it I master? His history of previous infidelities set the ground.... Jn 12.6: He loved money and abused the trust He made a Pact with the authorities to serve his own interests at the cost of the master

Opening to the dominion of darkness “Then after the morsel, Satan entered him”. He is now under the dominion of another Anyone breaking friendship with Jesus does not become free, but succumbs to other powers Judas betrays this friendship as he is in the grip of another force to which he has opened himself

Judas’ response “After receiving the morsel, he immediately went out; and it was night...

The setting The garden The three crucial gardens in the bible Paradise- he place of fall The three crucial gardens in the bible Garden of the resurrection Gethsemene –Jesus fidelity and Judas’ betrayal

The kiss of betrayal

Judas’ journey to the tree The remorse. The touch of the master is still alive. “I have sinned in betraying innocent blood” Mt 27.4 Now he distances from money. He throws away his desired silver coins

His remorse but turns to despair than to conversion He sees only himself and his darkness. He no longer sees the light of Jesus which can overcome darkness He moves on in the dark way and hangs on a tree

He is away from the true tree of life

Peter’s Fall Another kind of fall Resistence to washing the feet Difficulty to accept the master lowering down to wash his feet. He has not yet understood the way of Self emptying (kenosis)

“If I, then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet..... Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him” Jn 13.14-16

Peter’s heroism “Though they all fall away, because of you I will never fall away”. Mt 26.32-35 Truly, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows, you will deny me three times” “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you.”

Peter’s heroism Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave. Jn 18. 1’ Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Jn 18.15

Are you also one of this man’s deciples? The denial I am not Are you also one of this man’s deciples? His heroism wanes in fear and he denies Jesus

Remembrance and remorse Peter’s is a fall which is not defenite, which can therefore be healed through conversion.

Peter has leant to bid farewell to the heroism of personal deeds and has leant the humility of the disciple. He must lean to wait his hour.

He kept learning how to wait, how to persevere. He has to walk the way of the disciple in order to be led, when his hour comes, to the place, where he does not want to go (Jn 21.18)

Conversion into the new covenant Peter too died on the tree His was a journey on the way of the master

What makes the difference?

Formation is walking Jesus’ way

And sharing in his risen life I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD