The mark of the Devil
August 28, 2012 -- osservatoreromano.va
Deceitfulness is "the hallmark of the Devil". Pope Benedict XVI said at the Angelus on Sunday, 26 August, speaking of the betrayal of Judas to the faithful gathered in the courtyard of the Papal Residence in Castel Gandolfo. He "could have gone away too", Benedict XVI said, "as did many of the disciples". Instead "he stayed on with Jesus. He did not stay out of faith or out of love, but rather with the secret intention of taking revenge on the Teacher". For this reason his most serious sin was, precisely, deceitfulness.
For the Pope, Judas' expectations were focused on "a victorious Messiah who would lead a rebellion against the Romans". This is why he felt let down by Jesus and in his turn decided to betray him". In short, Judas did not believe in the "words of eternal life" with which Christ had foretold "the Paschal Mystery in which he was to give himself for the world's salvation: the new presence in the Blessed Eucharist". These words were so hard to understand and accept that "many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him". Peter, on the contrary, when Jesus himself questioned him, was to renew his profession and on behalf of the Twelve reaffirmed their faith in the Son of God.
