Betrayed

“Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Matthew 26:25

Each of the twelve disciples asked Jesus, “Surely it is not I, Lord?”, when He claimed that one of them would betray Him. They became deeply distressed by the thought. These days I am dismayed when those who profess to be Christians support our Philippine President’s way of fighting the drug menace in our country. Instead of rehabilitating suspected drug addicts, they are summarily killed. Obviously the strategy is so unsuccessful, even the President admits the problem is worse than when he took office. 

Aren’t those who approve of extrajudicial killings, and the President’s way of solving crime, a betrayal of Christ? Jesus’ way is love and He gave Himself for the atonement of my sin and the sin of each one of those who were killed in this unjust drug war. 

“God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Gen. 1:27) And that means each and everyone of us has an inherent value and dignity. We are not a a clump of dirt to be disposed of. We are not just atoms accidentally pulled together. God made us for a purpose, and He gave us freedom. Freedom to follow Him or freedom to betray Him. This Holy Week is a good time to reflect upon the ways, big or little, that we betray our God who made us in His own image and likeness. 

Lord, may You reveal Your saving power to each one of us, and help us realize in what ways we have betrayed You for the ways and thinking of the world.