Judas Iscariot got what he wanted: 30 Pieces of Silver. But in getting this Blood Money, he lost the most important thing; Love.

God is Love. Jesus is God.

God, gave to The World – the Best Love God could offer: His Son, Jesus Christ.

The true Words of Jesus, spoken to Judas must have stung his conscience, after he left the Last Supper Room. Jesus words regarding Judas, “It would have been better had he never been born.” (And, no, Jesus did not advocate abortion. He is Life itself.)

“He that dips his hand with me, he it is who will betray Me.”

After Judas got what he wanted, he realized he lost his most important treasure, God’s Graces. He felt empty because he was. All Judas had to do is believe God would forgive him, and run to the cross and cry out to Jesus, “I’m so sorry.” But, he did not do that. Let’s hope he did before he breathed his last breath.

Judas is the first Apostate. He was the first Bishop to receive Holy Communion in the State of Mortal Sin. He was the first heretic, the first Cain of the New Testament. Yet, the Holy One he handed over to be killed by the Jews, was and is the Son of God, the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity.

Instead of recalling Christ’s Words about forgiveness, “The Son of Man has the Power to Forgive Sin” and “This Is My Body which will be given up for you, for the Forgiveness of Sins….This Is My Blood….Do This In Memory of Me,” Judas Iscariot still chose, to believe the devil’s lies and temptations: “Jesus does not love you and He will never forgive you.” What a lie!!! Yet, every time we listen to the devil’s lies, we fall for, that line.

The Servant of God, Fr. John A. Hardon used to say, “The devil’s greatest tool is discouragement.”

And, it was when I was in despair, that I realized that, that despair was just what the devil wanted.

The devil will use persons, places or things to tempt you. He will use others or your own despairing thoughts to beguile and lie to you, tempting you to the ultimate temptation that “Jesus does not love you.”

Jesus called the devil “the father of lies.”He is the tempter. The Serpent in Genesis that tempted Adam and Eve. He works best, in stealth. Bring to light in your confession, the evil works and traps that you have fallen into, to your confessor. If your confessor is messed up go to another, until he recovers grace himself. You will know, when to trust again.

The devil works in hypocrisy, theft, lies, half-truths.

“Discouragement” always seals the devil’s deals. Unless you realize, this tactic is straight out of Hell, you will never resist him.

Know your body too. Whatever person, place or thing causes your body’s instability, and nose dive into sin: then avoid these “Near Occasions of Sin” immediately. God will help you. He is here today, to save you from your sins. For example: Sugary sweets, Alcohol, over the counter drugs, prescription drugs, illegal drugs, cigarettes, bad movies, violent or lusty friends must be avoided, like the plague.

We have to learn all this, or we will fall into every vice out there.

The devil wants to convince us, that Jesus is not loving us through a tough cross or that Christ will not forgive us, if we should succumb to temptations.

We must strive; to know, love and serve God.

If you are being tempted; not to know, love or serve God because you have already sinned much, turn to Christ – and talk to Him, “Lord have Mercy on me, a sinner! Help me to confess all my sins rightly.”

Have the guts to ask God what your predominant sin is. It may be a different sin, throughout your life. You may just conquer one sin, conquer it; then have to learn how to conquer another, different temptation or sin.

Even if you do not like fancy prayers; just talk to God like you would a friend and kindly think of God’s Holy Attributes. Think of Christ’s Divine & Human Attribute: Love/Mercy. Christ loved us so much, as to Memorialize His Love & Mercy – when He Instituted His First Mass on Holy Thursday.

God’s Love is manifested in the Seven Sacraments and the Church, He founded on the Rock of Peter and Cornerstone, Jesus. Yes, Peter and his Successors, the Popes are flawed, but Christ did make them the visible head, of His Church: just like God gave the Israelites Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David and Solomon to lead His People, in the Old Testament. Recall in the Old Testament the preeminence of the Mercy Seat.

The Mercy Seat prefigured the Sacrament of Mercy otherwise known as Confession, or the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Will there be some bad Popes in Hell? Probably.

There are good and bad people everywhere. Pray for them, to get the courage, to confess their sins and change. God demands that kind of love and mercy, out of His Followers. We must love, forgive and pray for others and ourselves.

Follow St Peter’s Successors, the Pope. Following Peter will be your Lifeline, back from any precipice the devils take you to.

As soon as a temptation presents itself, turn away, from the temptation or sin, stat! And, turn your thoughts to Jesus, immediately.

Immediately think of God.

Jesus‘ Holy Name is your greatest defense. Mary’s name scares the demons too. She asks her Divine Son, and He listens to Her Prayers, just like He did, at the Wedding Feast of Cana.

Mary, His Mother was bequeathed to us, by Jesus, on Good Friday. She is Our Blessed Mother and she is Mother of Christ’s Church. Mary has quicker results from asking Jesus, than asking any other saint.

Saint Joseph’s prayers to his Divine Foster-Son, Jesus are answered quickly, from Jesus, too.

Hate all sin.

Remember; un-checked Venial Sin leads to Mortal Sins, and eventually to Sacrilegious Sins.

Sacrilegious Sins violate, directly Christ’s Body and Blood in the Eucharist, and violates the person or persons of Christ’s Body the Church seriously too. Apostates act just like Judas Iscariot did at the Last Supper – Mass. They pretend Communion with Christ and you, but their hearts are far from Him and anyone else. The offended party always senses this commaradery with Christ, when they are going through these sins, from others. It is at this moment you are called to bless them, do good to them and pray for them. The natural inclination is to lick your wounds and cry out. Just recall Christ’s words, “If you love only those who love you, what merit is there in that. Even heathens do this….Love one another, as I have loved you.”

Talking about it to others, without naming names helps to get perspective. However, go to Christ first. If you do not, you may end up transgressing the eighth commandment. Gossip.

If it is a Public Sin – like the encroachment of Communism – again prayer and penance is your first defense. Then community push back, done wisely.

This is the Holiest of All Weeks. It is rife with lessons from Christ how to deal with difficult crosses. Listen to the daily Mass Readings from Scripture, Confession and Holy Mass, will help you better than what I can say here. Your walk with Jesus is unique in each soul. And, yet common too.

“Never. Never. Never, run from the Cross.” ~ Servant of God, Father John Anthony Hardon.

Cling to the Cross, God has allowed it, to be put on your back. Pray for relief of it’s burden, but accept it, kiss it, and be nailed, to it. When you “Offer It’s Pain and Humiliations Up to Christ Crucified” you will overcome it, in Victory with Christ Triumphant and Risen.

If you are called to be a Martyr for the Catholic Faith or in defense of Another’s Life, you will be welcomed into Heaven by a Troubadour of of the Nine Choirs of Angels. They sing unceasingly and rejoice over one lost sinner who is saved from eternal death, in hell. They rejoice that you will enjoy Eternal Life with them in Heaven, singing God’s Praises in One Accord. Think of Eternal Love and Eternal Joy whenever you are tempted and you will not stray. You will want to stay in Christ’s Pasture forever, in the Fold of His Love.

Question: Did Judas repent before he died? We will never know, until we reach Heaven.

Question: Will we be happy, if our loved ones did not go to Heaven? God will not allow you to grieve in heaven. His love will be your all. He will dry all your tears, and give you rest in His everlasting joy.

Jesus’ Question to Judas Iscariot “Wilt thou betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”

Either we kiss the wood of our cross allowed by God, or we kiss up to Jesus as if we love Him, like Judas Iscariot did in the Garden of Olives, on the night before Jesus’ death in a false Catholic Piety. When Jesus then calls us on it, do we repent of our sins? Or Will we despair of God’s Love and Forgiveness, and kill ourselves, further and further everyday: until our sins claim our very body and soul?

We get to choose. God gives us a free will.

Have a holy Holy Week and Blest Easter Weekend.

On a daily basis, when you wake up, recall Jesus’ Words to you, “Pick up your cross and follow Me.”