Our Holy Father has focused each of his recent Wednesday audiences on the Apostles. At the outset he said that he would focus on the saints as models. Obviously, then, one can ask the question "What goes here, Holy Father?" "Why would Jesus select a man who would eventually turn on him?" Benedict XVI replied to these kinds of questions: "it is not ours to judge." He then reminded us that our God, the same God who will judge us as he judged Judas, is "infinitely merciful and just." The Pope went on to remark: "the example of Judas is a reminder never to despair of divine mercy." In the instance of Judas, the "negative role" serves to teach us the genuine meaning of the Redemption.
Concluding, the Pope reminded the crowd in St. Peter's Square that the remaining 11 apostles elected Matthias as Judas' successor. It is the same Matthias who is the patron of Pastor Jeff Defayette and his parishioners at Lanham's St. Matthias Church. Of this election the Pope remarked: "If there is no shortage of unworthy, false Christians, even in the Church, it is up to each of us to balance the evil they do with our own clear witness to Jesus Christ." Now there is a shot across our individual bows, isn't it?
