Judas, mystery of plan of salvation (vis)

JUDAS ISCARIOT: MYSTERY OF DIVINE PLAN OF SALVATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 18, 2006 (VIS) - During today's general audience, Benedict XVI dedicated his remarks to the figure of Judas Iscariot, and to his successor in the group of the twelve Apostles, Matthias. The audience was held in St. Peter's Square in the presence of more than 30,000 people.

"The name of Judas Iscariot," said the Pope, "always appears last in the lists of the Twelve ... [which also] recall the fact of his betrayal as having already been accomplished." However, he added, the evangelists do emphasize Judas' status as an Apostle "to all effects."

"We ask ourselves why Jesus chose this man and put His trust in him. ... Even more uncertain is the mystery concerning his eternal fate." However "it is not for us to judge his gesture, putting ourselves in the place of God, Who is infinitely merciful and just."

"Why did he betray Jesus?" the Holy Father asked. "Some people highlight the question of his greed for money. Others favor a messianic explanation: Judas was disappointed to see that Jesus' plans did not include the political-military liberation of his country."

Benedict XVI pointed out how the evangelists explain Judas' betrayal "going beyond the historical reasons," and attributing it to "the personal responsibility of Judas who miserably submitted to a temptation of the Evil One. ... Jesus treated him like a friend but, in His invitations to follow Him, ... did not force people's will or protect them from the temptations of Satan, respecting human freedom. Truly, there are many ways in which the human heart can be perverted. The only way to obviate them is ... to be in full communion with Jesus."

Judas' repentance "degenerated into desperation and thus became self-destruction. For us, this is an invitation never to despair of divine mercy."

Even Judas "negative role" is part of God's mysterious plan of salvation, said the Pope, explaining how "God takes Judas' inexcusable gesture as an occasion for the total donation of the Son for the redemption of the world." Judas was replaced by Matthias "of whom we know nothing more, save that he was a witness to the entire earthly teaching of Jesus, remaining faithful to Him unto the end," his election "almost compensating the betrayal. Here," said Pope Benedict, "is a final lesson: if even in the Church there is no lack of unworthy and false Christians, it is up to each of us to counterbalance the evil they commit with our own clear witness of Jesus Christ."

"Three Versions of Judas" (Borges). http://www.yksi.org/tekst/ald/borges_3giuda-en.txt

Any thoughts, ivanhoe?

Originally posted by 7ate9
Nobody is Judas for bashing Bush and his regime, cause he is far from Jesus. That I know, cause Jesus would be looking after Iraqi people...

JESUS WOULDN'T TREAT THEM LIKE HIS LITTLE PUPPETS, PLAYING SUPERIOR GAMES WHILE THEY DIED...

I find it equally interesting that the twelve tribes of Israel mentioned in Revelation as being part of the 144,000 has one missing, namely the tribe of Dan. I assume their are 12 disciples due to the fact that their are 12 tribes of Israel. The symbolism is unmistakable. Therefore, you may want to ask yourself why their is one fallen tribe of Israel as well as one fallen disciple.

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
"Three Versions of Judas" (Borges). http://www.yksi.org/tekst/ald/borges_3giuda-en.txt

Any thoughts, ivanhoe?

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
Any thoughts, ivanhoe?

Originally posted by Nemesio
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA ...[text shortened]... HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

Originally posted by Nemesio
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA ...[text shortened]... HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

Originally posted by frogstomp
your laugh reminds me of the howling of a pack of wolves.

Originally posted by ivanhoe
Well, I've heard of these ideas before. They are interesting speculations to play with for great minds like Borges and that's perhaps what they in essence are ... interesting mindboggling intellectual playthings ....

Originally posted by Nemesio
Not to Ivanhoe, who thinks it reflects my child-like innocence.

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
Maybe you prefer Gurdjieff.
http://www.bardic-press.com/thomas/fourthway.htm

Originally posted by ivanhoe
..... mmmmmmwah ......