If Jesus knew that Judas was going to betray him, why did he keep him in the circle of his close companions until the end?

Among the many disciples who followed him, Jesus designated twelve to be closest to him, to share and continue his mission. He took very seriously the formation of this group of twelve apostles, praying an entire night beforehand.

But at a certain moment, Jesus realized that one of the twelve, Judas, had changed his attitude. Jesus understood that Judas was becoming distant from him, and even saw that he was going to “hand him over,” as the gospels put it. According to John’s gospel, Jesus understood what was happening already in Galilee, long before the events in Jerusalem that would bring him to the cross (John 6:70-71). Why then did he not send Judas away? Why did he keep him close to him until the end?

One of the words used by Jesus to speak of the creation of the group of the twelve apostles gives us a clue. “Did not I choose you, the Twelve?” (John 6:70; see also 13:18.) The verb to choose is a key word in Bible history. God chose Abraham, and then chose Israel to become the chosen people. It is God’s choice or election that forms God’s people, the people of the covenant. What makes the covenant unbreakable is that God chooses to love Abraham and his descendants for ever. The apostle Paul would comment on this: “God’s gifts and call are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29).

Because Jesus chose the twelve just as God chose his people, he could not send Judas away even when he realized that he was going to betray him. He knew that he had to love him to the end, to show that God’s choice was irrevocable. The prophets, Hosea and Jeremiah in particular, spoke in the name of a God wounded and humiliated by the betrayals of his people, but who nevertheless never stopped loving them with eternity’s love. Jesus did not wish to do less, nor could he do so: humiliated by the treason of one of his closest companions, he kept on showing him his love. By lowering himself before his disciples to wash their feet, he made himself the servant of all, Judas included. And it was particularly with Judas that he shared a peace of bread, a fragment of burning love that the disciple took away with him into his night (John 13:21-30).

If he wanted to be faithful to his Father – to the God who chose Abraham and Israel, to the God of the prophets – Jesus could do nothing else but keep Judas close to him until the end. He loved Judas even when Judas was enshrouded by darkness. “The light shines in the darkness” (John 1:5). The gospel says that Jesus “was glorified” at the moment he gave his love to Judas, when he loved him without gaining anything by it and beyond all measure (John 13:31). In the darkest night of resentment and hatred, Jesus manifested the unbelievable radiance of God’s love.

Source: http://www.taize.fr/en_article4572.html

Season of Lent

And so it is, Lent once again. How fast time pasts. It seems just yesterday or thereabouts that it was Advent, and Christmas. After all that joyous activity, we had New Years, and the Chinese Lunar New Year. Amidst all this, we had Ash Wednesday, which marked the beginning of Lent.
Lent is a time when we prepare ourselves for what is to be the commemoration of the greatest gift one can get. This of course would be Jesus, and His great sacrifice for us all. In this time of Lent, we are called to not only make sacrifices like Him too, but to do good things as well. Moreso now, after today, which is the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, meaning that there can be no more excuse to be still in the festive mood of indulgence.
Inspired by the contemplative mood set in for this season, I decided to paint a picture, a Lenten project if you may, to remind me of what this season is about. It seems to be no coincidence that I painted this today, which as I mentioned is the last day we can use as excuse to be "immune" to what Lent requires of us as Catholics; we are now called upon to carry up our cross and journey with Him. I hope this will inpire the rest of you who read this blog to think and pray, during this Holy season of Lent.

-Shawn

Virgin Mary did not had any other children other than Christ

Greetings,

As promised, the Douay commentary on Matt 1:25, attesting to the fact that the Virgin Mary did not had any other children other than Christ.

Your humble elect,
Gus

Click on the text to see larger font.