The Judas Factor
In the business world, customer service is the key to success.
While the customer may not always be right, a good sales associate will make sure the customer's needs are met, one way or another. That is not an easy task, especially when the customer's demands are beyond the scope of the associate's abilities. That is why some of the best service-oriented companies empower their associates to make decisions on behalf of their superiors.
When you speak to an empowered one, you are speaking to the one who empowered him.
Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.’ - John 13:20
In today's reading from the Gospel of John, Jesus is about to be betrayed by Judas.
That event has a way, though, of overshadowing everything else that is happening in this chapter. So, I thought I would focus on this statement that Jesus says just before the betrayal.
It is easy to understand this statement on its own, but it oddly placed, just before Jesus tells Judas to do what he is going to do.
Is Jesus sending Judas to be received as he would be received? Is Jesus empowering Judas?
In the Gospel of Judas, a more recent find, that is how the situation is portrayed. Judas is sent to act on behalf of Jesus, and that is a troubling thought.
Or, perhaps it is a lesson for us. Let us call it the Judas Factor, the element of choice that can change the way people experience God.
As Christians, we are empowered to go into the world representing Christ. We are filled with the Holy Spirit through Baptism, and become emissaries of Christ, and through Christ, of the one who sent him, the Father. We are trusted to do as Jesus taught, to love one another.
So, when we betray that trust, we are not just acting on our own. We are representing God, and that is frightening.
We hear about the misdeeds and trust violations of clergy and say, "How could one who is a man or woman of God do that?"
What about when we do that same thing? Why aren't we held to the same standard, since we are all men and women of God, whether we are clergy or not?
As we come to the end of this year, and we contemplate making our resolutions for 2015, why not take a moment and resolve to be a true representative of Christ?
It will be a challenge at first, since we might find ourselves pausing before speaking or acting. But if we remember Judas who had planned a betrayal and was told his plan was known, we might think twice before acting, knowing our plan is known as well.
Whatever we choose to do, we will not be stopped. So, it is up to us to judge our own actions and decide accordingly. We are empowered and what we choose will be how people see and experience God.
Wow, that's a heavy load to bear alone. I had better pray for help.
More to come...
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