WHEN JESUS IS NOT LORD OF YOUR LIFE

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

Notice that, in Matthew’s account of the Passion, Judas addressed Jesus merely as “Rabbi,” not as Lord (Mt 26:25; see also Mt 26:49). The other disciples all addressed Jesus as “Lord” (Mt 26:22). Calling Jesus “Rabbi,” that is, “Teacher” (see Jn 1:38), gives evidence that Judas had already stopped recognizing Jesus as his Lord and Master. Since no man can have two masters (Mt 6:24), Judas now had a different master than Jesus; he transferred his loyalty to the Jewish chief priests (see Mt 26:14ff). How tragically sad!

Judas betrayed Jesus so smoothly that even the other eleven apostles, who were so quick to compare themselves to each other (see Mt 20:24; Mk 9:34; Lk 9:46; 22:24), didn’t even suspect Judas. None of the other disciples said, “Lord, is it Judas?” Instead they all asked Jesus if they themselves had betrayed Him (Mt 26:22). Judas successfully hid his betrayal from his closest associates, but the Lord knew differently.

Judas shows that it is possible to fool even the pillars of the Church into thinking we are great servants of Jesus. We can even fool ourselves into thinking we have given our lives to Jesus. However, we can’t fool the Lord. We must give Jesus every aspect of our lives to truly call Him our Lord. As Fr. Al Lauer, founder and long-time author of One Bread, One Body, often proclaimed: “If Jesus is not Lord of all, then He is not Lord at all in your life.” Ask Jesus to show you any area of your life that still needs to be subject to Him. Give Jesus your all, and make Him your Lord.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, nail me to Your cross with You, so that I might never leave You in difficult times.

Promise: “Morning after morning He opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back.” —Is 50:4-5

Praise: Slowly, with much prayer, John earned the respect of his co-workers, and their vulgar speech diminished in the workplace.