Papal preacher: Betraying Jesus is bad, doubting his mercy is worse
Everyone is capable of betraying Jesus as Judas did, but no one should make the mistake of doubting God's mercy and willingness to forgive, the papal preacher said.
Though Jesus knows well what is "unfolding in his disciple's heart, he doesn't expose it, he wants to give him the possibility, until the very end, of backing out" and repenting, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa said during the Liturgy of the Lord's Passion.
Pope Francis presided at the April 18 service in St. Peter's Basilica commemorating Christ's death on the cross.
The pope began the rite after a silent procession down the central nave. Then he lay prostrate on the floor before the main altar in silent prayer, a sign of adoration and penance.
Later, the pope and thousands of faithful stood as three deacons and the Sistine Chapel Choir chanted the account of the Passion from the Gospel of St. John.
Following tradition, the homily was delivered by Father Cantalamessa, the preacher of the papal household.
Focusing on the role of Judas, the Capuchin priest said the narrative of a person doing evil for "30 pieces of silver" keeps repeating itself throughout history.
As Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters ... You cannot serve God and mammon," the false deity of wealth, the preacher said.Father Cantalamessa is a Franciscan Capuchin Catholic Priest who was appointed as preacher of the Papal Household by Blessed John Paul II in 1980, and who therefore gives a weekly sermon during Advent and Lent in the presence of the Pope, the cardinals, bishops an prelates of the Roman Curia and the general superiors of religious orders.
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