Reflecting On The Dark Passages Of Scripture
In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, “Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus— for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) “For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his homestead become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it’; and ‘Let another take his position of overseer.’ So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.” So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.
~ Acts 1:15-26 (NRSV)
Today’s devotion gives us an opportunity to reflect on one of the darkest moments in our salvation history. The crucifixion of Jesus was set up by a traitor, Judas “the Iscariot.”
To review the sad story, Judas was probably the most complex and downbeat of the Twelve. His surname, Iscariot, suggests either that he was from a particular town, or that he may have been associated with the sicarii, the assassins who resisted the Roman occupation. That he was called a “thief” in the Synoptics backs up that idea, because the resistance was financed by stealing from the Romans and collaborators. At any rate, Jesus was an equal opportunity Messiah. He called IRS collection agents and prostitutes along with the common laborers and junior priests and fisherman-entrepreneurs. So Simon and Judas, who were probably called “terrorists” by the occupying authority, were also welcome, as long as they repented of their sin and learned to follow the Law of Christ, the law of love.
Of course, Judas was the tragic character of the Twelve, because he never learned that lesson. He literally sold out His master, and, messing up to the end, turned his repentance into the final act of despair. The story of his suicide is one of what is considered the “dark passages” of the Bible, tales of violence and immorality. We're reminded that “first and foremost” “biblical revelation is deeply rooted in history. God’s plan is manifested progressively and it is accomplished slowly, in successive stages and despite human resistance.” Stories like this, in which an evil act is related “without explicit” denunciation of its immorality, need to be explained. These pericopes “cause the modern reader to be taken aback, especially if he or she fails to take account of the many ‘dark’ deeds carried out down the centuries, and also in our own day.” These historical accounts must be paired off with the denunciations of violence and immorality found in the writings of the prophets, and in the letters of the apostles, particularly Paul. We don’t know how the early Church used them in Liturgy. Probably, because we have the testimony of the Didache, every time there was a reading there was also an interpretation by a leader of the community. The final arbiter of what is right and what is wrong is Jesus Christ, and the Law by which we will be judged is the Law of Christ.
One thing we can learn from this passage in Acts is that God is a master fixer. From the tragedy of Judas he put together the divine comedy that featured Matthias. This story tells us that in the days after the Ascension, when the disciples were gathered with their guiding star, the Mother of Jesus, to organize the little community called “the Way,” the Holy Spirit inspired them to replace Judas through prayer. When no clear winner stood out, they threw the dice. This was an act of trust–both these men were acceptable, but only one could be chosen. They made the decision in one of the ways customary for Jews–by casting lots. Not much is known about Matthias after this event, but we do know that by the end of the first century, the Church had been spread beyond this little band of a few dozen to all four corners of the Roman Empire, and today fills the earth, from the rising of the sun to its setting.
A spiritual darkness is today trying to cover this country. Under the guise of eliminating discrimination, powerful political leaders are trying to force the Church to say that evil is good, and good is evil. Most recently they have invited us to join them in a social movement to corrupt the institution of marriage, to elevate interpersonal abuse and pretend that it is a communion of persons. The Church is entering a period in which She is being persecuted, scorned, maligned for Her adherence to the Law of Christ. We must resist, and support our church leaders, in their contest with this evil and this darkness.
Almighty God, who in the place of Judas chose your faithful servant Matthias to be numbered among the Twelve: Grant that your Church, being delivered from false apostles, may always be guided and governed by faithful and true pastors; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.In Jesus,
Chaplain Kenny
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Scripture taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 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.
Today’s devotion gives us an opportunity to reflect on one of the darkest moments in our salvation history.
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