Did Judas Ever Get a Chance at Forgiveness?

https://ignatiansolidarity.net/blog/2021/03/31/gods-mercy/ 

“There but for the grace of God go I” is a popular phrase often used to express humility and thanks for being blessed and thus avoiding your own negative or bad situation. It could be as simple as slipping on ice but not getting hurt like your neighbor did. It could also be a reason to give thanks after observing a severely handicapped person or a terminally ill friend. Could the same apply to meeting a person convicted of a crime? We all make mistakes.

 

In a recent ISN reflection the author cautions us not to prejudge Judas pointing out we should also consider a few “lesser-known facts”. She goes on to recount that Judas was chosen by Jesus, that Judas left everything to follow Jesus, that Jesus loved him, and he was part of his inner circle. Judas was not an obvious suspect in the betrayal of Jesus and from all appearances, he was a typical apostle. Nevertheless, the author goes on to beg the question why a “devoted follower of Jesus is capable enough, or weak enough, to betray Him. Was it really for thirty pieces of silver as one account offers? It leaves us to reckon with the reality of our own sinfulness. Judas could have been played out by any of us.” What unknown factors may cause us to sin?

 

Before my retirement as a US Probation Officer, I spent nearly 34 years interviewing convicted offenders before sentencing as well supervising persons on probation or parole often asking them why they did the misdeed (s) that got them in trouble. For many years, my unconscious thought pattern while questioning those offenders was based on my own modest working middle class upbringing that included my Catholic school education, a suburban lifestyle and all the white privileges I did not recognize at the time.

 

Innocently, I used to think all peoples started out about the same since as newborns we were all about the same size and weight. Where did these folks go wrong? Tragically, I came to realize soon after birth, our differences began immediately. We were all not loved unconditionally by our parent(s), our food choices and neighborhoods were vastly different, and our educational resources were in stark contrast. Racial profiling was not part of my upbringing. Later in my career, I realized that just being poor was not the decisive factor that led to criminal behavior. Rather, the many negative consequences of systemic racism (the unnamed villain) often led so many people of color to turn to drugs and other vices, as this was a common solution to their feelings of hopelessness.

 

By the end of my career, I concluded there were many good people of all faiths, races, and economic standing who, for a variety of reasons, made bad choices that led them to commit crimes. Unfortunately, just like most Christians who readily blame Judas while only speculating about his past, we have often been all too quick to write off criminal offenders as totally evil and beyond forgiveness, rehabilitation, and a second chance.

 

Justice tempered with compassion toward the victim is vital, but so is compassion toward the perpetrator, many of whom we judge without walking in their shoes. True justice is a delicate balance and often very difficult to achieve. We need to hold offenders accountable, but we also need to afford specialized treatment opportunities for both the victim and offender to be made whole even if it means availing those incarcerated the opportunity to know there is a forgiving God filled with mercy and forgiveness.

 

Is there anything you can do to make justice better? This next month SAM is collecting new or used paperback books to be provided to the local jail. Inmates will be able to read what is donated including religious or self-help books and who knows what impact a book donated may have on their lives. Have you finished reading a good book that inspired you spiritually? Was it on forgiveness and mercy? If it changed your life in some way, why not give the same book a chance to change another life?

 

In addition, some SAM members under the guidance of the local Jail Ministry have decided to correspond with incarcerated persons held at the jail pending resolution of their cases. Your actual identity is known only to God and the Jail Ministry. Your goal is to write encouragement, spiritual and otherwise, to those persons who are facing a very unknown future. Are you a letter writer or a want-to-be spiritual facilitator? If so, contact a SAM member and you can be provided more details about this nonjudgmental ministry you can do right from home.

Paul D.