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“When the glorious disciples were enlightened at the washing of the supper, then Judas the wicked, sick with the love of money, became darkened.”
How could it happen that the Apostle Judas Iscariot betrayed his Teacher and God? After all, he was a close disciple of the Savior, not even one of the 70, but one of His 12 disciples ( Mark 3:13–19 ). Judas Iscariot, like the other Apostles, had the gift of healing: he cast out demons and performed miracles, he heeded the words of the Divine Teacher ( John 6:67–71 ), and was constantly with Him ( Acts 1:20–22 ). And yet, he betrayed Him. What was the reason for this betrayal? The passion of avarice.
The Apostle Judas Iscariot was the treasurer of a small group of Christ's disciples. "He had a money box with him and carried away whatever was put into it" ( John 12:6 ). His heart was set on money, so much so that he became, in the words of the same Evangelist, a thief. The love of money darkened Judas's heart, and for the sake of it, he agreed to betray the Savior to the scribes and Pharisees. “Then ,” says St. Matthew, “ one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me, that I may betray him to you?’ They offered him thirty pieces of silver. And from that time on he began to look for an opportunity to betray him” ( Matthew 26:14–16 ). What was the betrayal of Judas? The scribes and Pharisees wanted to seize and kill the Savior, but not in public, because they were afraid of popular uprising, for the people loved the Savior ( Matthew 26:3–5 ). Judas helped them by showing them the secluded place of the Savior – the Garden of Gethman. At night, Judas, surrounded by the servants of the high priest and soldiers, came to the Garden of Gethman and gave a sign: ‘Whomever I kiss is the one, take him.’ And he kissed the Savior. Then the soldiers took the Savior and led Him away to trial. ( Mark 14:43–46 )... Judas's betrayal tells us that we must constantly watch over the purity of our hearts, so that no passion takes hold of us: neither the love of money, nor fornication, nor pride, nor ambition, or others. When we have no sins in our souls, then we are in unity with God, but when any passion takes hold of our hearts, it separates us from God. And what should we do when we sin? We must hasten to repent, so that passion does not take root in us. Not only the Apostle Judas Iscariot, but also the Apostle Peter sinned by denying his Lord and Teacher. And yet, Saint. Apostle Peter washed away his sin of denial with many tears, for he believed in God's mercy and was not mistaken - the Lord forgave him and returned his apostolic dignity ( John 21:15-18 ). Judas, although he repented of his betrayal, fell into despondency and despair, forgetting that the Lord is loving even to sinners, and perished by hanging himself ( Matthew 27:3-5 ). Nowadays, you often hear people say: how could it happen that former prominent Orthodox priests and bishops, even well-known ones, betrayed holy Orthodoxy and became schismatics? Do not be confused, beloved, by these apostates. Remember that the Apostle Jude, one of the 12 disciples of the Savior, became His traitor! The high rank of priest and bishop does not yet free one from sinful falls. Bishops and priests especially need to be careful and guard purity of heart and remain in humility and devotion to God. For their fall very often leads to the fall of many of their spiritual children, in the words of Our Savior: "If the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."We must beware of such betrayers of Christ, as the Savior tells us about them: “Let them alone, for they are blind leaders of the blind... Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up” ( Matthew 15:13–14 ). We must obey the Orthodox hierarchs and priests, according to the words of our Lord, spoken to His disciples and all their successors, the Orthodox hierarchs: “He who hears you hears Me, but he who rejects you rejects Me” ( Luke 10:16 ).
AMEN.
Source: https://azbyka.org/otechnik/Onufrij_Gagaluk/pisma-i-stati/7