Nougat 21

Oftentimes, egged on by others, we make decisions by which we are obliged to stand afterwards. Today’s Holy Nougat helps us to carefully reflect on our actions.

“Then Judah, His betrayer, saw that Yeshua had been condemned. Feeling remorse, he brought the thirty silver pieces back to the ruling kohanim and elders, saying, “I’ve sinned, betraying innocent blood!” But they said, “What’s that to us? You see to it yourself!”” Matthew‬ ‭27:3-4‬ ‭TLV‬‬

Judas.

The man we love to hate.

The one whom Jesus said would have been better off had he NOT been born.

The one who sold the trust placed in him for what amounted to a mere four months minimum wage.

Many thoughts abound about Judas’ act of betrayal, and there may have some validity. One thing that’s clear from what we read – Judas was extremely remorseful. He had a moment’s regret; in fact, it was longer than a moment. But, by then he was on his own. For although they incited him to sin, when Judas needed absolution, the priests were NOT embracing his sin or punishment.

It was perhaps a lesson for Chauvin, one that cost him his freedom after his horrible decision to prove a point by prolonging the illegal harassment of Georgia Floyd. A decision he hopefully regrets. Wrong decision. And the sentence is his alone to bear. Regardless of how he operated as an officer in the past, this is what defines him now. Can we imagine the difference an alternative decision would have made?

May this be a lesson to us all today. Those who stir us up to action – both positive and negative – are not necessarily going to be charged / castigated alongside us. We must therefore be prayerful, weighing the options and possible outcomes before making a decision. It could be a matter of life and death.

My prayer for each of us today is for God’s wisdom to guide our decisions

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May all we seek be found in Christ