.

I understand Judas and I look forward to meeting him when I get to heaven.

He was not a bad man (that perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor), but he often put his own interests first, (helping himself to the common purse) and wanted to be in the “in” group (what will you give me if I hand him over to you).

Jesus, knowing Judas through and through, was prepared to give him a chance naming him as one of his closest friends.

There’s a lot in Judas that I can relate to.

While the focus of this Holy Week is Jesus, many others representing every part of ourselves have their exits and their entrances.

Most of them, like me, like Judas, fumbling along, some remembered for their best moments, others for their worst, each playing a part which divine mercy labours to turn to the good.

Remember too that after Judas had betrayed Jesus he went away and wept bitterly – a sign of his repentance.

My paternal grandparents were married almost a century ago and the lasting wedding-day story in the family is the one-sentence advice the priest gave to Grandma and Grandad in his homily:

“Do your best, and leave the rest to God”.

I like that.

To conclude I share a little story I found it a few years ago. It’s a useful insight into a process Jesus might have used to choose the twelve.

I am sure they all did their best and left the rest, and that’s why God chose them.

Dear Sir:

Thank you for submitting the resumes of the twelve men you have picked for managerial positions in your new organisation. All of them have now taken our battery of tests; and we have not only run the results through our computer, but also arranged personal interviews for each of them with our psychologist and vocational aptitude consultant.

The profiles of all tests are included, and you will want to study each of them carefully.

As part of our service, we make some general comments for your guidance, much as an auditor will include some general statements. This is given as a result of staff consultation, and comes without any additional fee.

It is the staff opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking. They do not have the team concept. We would recommend that you continue your search for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capability.

Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has absolutely no qualities of leadership. The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale. We feel that it is our duty to tell you that Matthew had been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus definitely have radical leanings, and they both registered a high score on the manic-depressive scale.

One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind, and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious, and responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand man. All of the other profiles are self-explanatory.

We wish you every success in your new venture.

Sincerely,

Jordan Management Consultants

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