Forgive Thy Enemies: Christ with Judas

**What the Evangelist tells us about Judas—as Saint Thomas notes—is meant to lay bare the depth of his malice: how, surrounded by so many signs of love, he could still harden his heart. And it also reveals to us the boundless charity of Jesus Christ, who did not cease to burn with love, even in the presence of His enemy. For Christ, as man, grieved more over the loss of Judas than over His own death upon the cross.

Still, He did not hold back His acts of love: He washed Judas’s feet, just as He did the others’; He gave him His very Body; He even gently warned him, hoping he might choose another path.

But we—so small in love—if we see one enemy among our friends, we grow cold, lose our joy, and cannot eat in peace. Because of one, the rest suffer the loss of our friendship. Yet Christ’s love, burning unquenchably to the very end, was not dimmed by Judas’s presence or his known betrayal.

O blazing Heart of Jesus—lover even of those who hate You—who could fathom the depth of Your love, as You entrusted Yourself, consecrated, into the dark soul of Judas, Your betrayer? And still You saw that even this did not soften his heart. You Yourself urged him to go and do what he must, for he had already given You over to sin when he received You.

And the Evangelist tells us more: that Jesus knew—all-sufficient Redeemer that He is—what He came to redeem. He knew that all things would pass into the eternal possession of the Father, through the victory He would win over the devil."**
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Another, more literal version.

**"What the Evangelist says about Judas is, as Saint Thomas notes, to emphasize his great malice: that amid so many signs of love, he could still harden his heart. And also to show us the charity of Jesus Christ, who did not cease to burn with the highest degree of love, even though Judas, his enemy, was present—one whose loss Christ, as man, grieved more than his own death on the cross. For this reason, He did not fail to perform for him the works of charity He did for the others: washing his feet, giving him His body, and admonishing him to make a better decision.

We are so lacking in love that, if we see one of our enemies among our friends, we cannot show joy or eat a bite with pleasure; on account of one, the others lose our friendly companionship. But since the love of Christ was burning to the utmost until the end, neither the presence nor the known malice of Judas could extinguish it.

Oh most ardent Jesus, lover even of your enemies! Who could fathom with what depths of charity you gave yourself, consecrated, into the malign entrails of Judas your betrayer—and then saw that not even this appeased his malice? You yourself urged him to go and hand you over to the Jews, for he had already handed you over to his sins when he received you.

The Evangelist also says that Jesus knew, as the all-sufficient Redeemer—who must know what He redeems—that all things were to pass into the everlasting possession of His Father by overcoming the devil."**
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A poetic translation.

The Charity of Christ in the Face of Judas
(A poetic rendering of Fray Francisco de Osuna, Ley del Amor Santo, c. 12)

What the Evangelist tells us of Judas,
as Saint Thomas notes with piercing eye,
is told not lightly—
but to magnify the depth of his betrayal:
that amid such overflowing signs of love,
he could still choose to harden.

And more than that:
it is to show the burning heart of Christ,
whose love blazed even with His enemy beside Him—
a love unshaken,
a fire unquenched
though the shadow of betrayal stood so near.

Christ saw him, Judas,
and still the flame did not falter.
He grieved—yes—
not for the nails or scourge,
not for His blood that would be spilled,
but for the loss of this soul,
who sat at His side
and would not be saved.

And so, what did He do?
Did He draw back, close His hands,
withhold His grace?
No—
He knelt,
and washed the dust from his betrayer’s feet,
as He did for the others.
He broke the bread—no, more—
He gave His Body,
His very self, into that soul
already turned toward darkness.
He pleaded still,
that he might choose again.

But we,
so thin in love,
so quick to close our hearts,
cannot even sit in peace
when one we do not trust is near.
Our joy is gone,
our table cold—
for one enemy among our friends,
we withhold ourselves from all.

Not so with Christ.
His love burned bright
even in the face of treachery.
Judas sat beside Him,
and Christ, knowing all,
still gave and gave.

O burning Heart,
O Jesus,
lover even of Your enemies—
who can imagine
with what divine tenderness
You entered the foul soul of the one
who would hand You over?

You gave Yourself, consecrated,
to the one who conspired to destroy You.
You placed Your purity
within the hands of death.
And You saw—
saw that it did not soften him.

Still, You urged him,
gently,
to go and do what he would do.
For he had already given You away
when he received You
with a heart closed to grace.

And John, the Evangelist,
tells us more:
that You, Jesus,
Redeemer complete and wise,
knew what You came to redeem—
and who.

You knew that all
would pass into the hands of the Father,
that through this hour of hell,
this night of loss,
the kingdom would be won.
You knew
that the devil would be cast down,
and what seemed defeat
would become
eternal possession.
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Another version.

The Charity of Christ
(after Fray Francisco de Osuna, c. 12)

What the Evangelist wrote of Judas,
Saint Thomas saw with sharpened eye—
that one so cloaked in signs of love
could still grow cold, and harden.

It shows the weight of malice deep,
but more, it shows the heart of Christ:
a flame that would not cease to burn,
though Judas sat beside Him.
His enemy—yet still
He washed his feet,
He broke the Bread,
He warned him gently,
even then.

O Christ!
You grieved not more
for thorns, nor scourge, nor cross,
than for that soul
you could not win.
And still you loved,
and still you gave,
and still you burned.

But we—how quickly
love grows thin.
If one we fear or hate draws near,
we turn from all,
lose peace,
and chill the room.

Yet You,
whose love was fierce and full
until the final breath,
were not undone
by Judas' gaze,
nor by the evil in his heart.

O burning Jesus,
lover of your foes—
who can conceive
what love it took
to place Yourself,
so consecrated,
in the cruel hands,
the darker soul
of him who sold You?

You saw
his heart unmoved,
his will unbowed—
and still, You urged him on.
For he had handed You away
long before the silver clinked,
when he received You in his sin.

And You, Redeemer,
all-complete,
knew what You came to do:
to wrest all things
from demon's grip
and place them
in the Father's hands
forever.
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Here in metered verse.

The Charity of Christ toward Judas
(Iambic Pentameter Couplets)

The Evangelist reveals of Judas’ mind,
As Saint Thomas notes, a malice hard to find.
Though countless signs of love were given there,
His heart grew cold, immersed in dark despair.

Yet Christ, whose love no hatred could outlast,
Burned fiercer still, though Judas stood so fast.
His enemy was near, but love did blaze,
More grieved He Judas’ loss than cross or praise.

He washed his feet, as with the rest He’d done,
And gave His Body—the eternal Son.
He warned him gently to amend his way,
But Judas chose the night instead of day.

We, frail in love, if one foe joins our band,
Can scarce delight or break bread hand in hand.
For one we shun the rest withhold their grace,
Yet Christ embraced His traitor face to face.

O flaming Heart! Who loves His foes so deep,
Entrusting self to Judas’ soul to keep.
Though consecrated in that traitor’s hold,
Not even this could make his spirit fold.

He urged him on to do what must be done,
For Judas sold not Christ—but sin begun.
And Jesus knew, all-knowing Redeemer bright,
That through this dark, He’d claim eternal right.

All things would pass to God, His Father true,
By conquest won o’er Satan’s foulest crew.
Thus, in this hour, though pain and loss were vast,
The love of Christ endured and holds us fast.
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Here is the Spanish original.

Lo que el evangelista dice de Judas es, como nota Santo Tomás, para nos encarecer su gran malicia, que entre tantas señales de amor se pudo endurecer; y aun también para nos intimar la caridad de Jesucristo, que no dejó de arder en sumo grado, aunque estaba Judas su enemigo presente, de cuya pérdida Cristo hombre más se dolió que de su propia muerte de cruz; y por esto no dejó de le hacer las obras de caridad que hizo a los otros lavándoles los pies y dándole su cuerpo y amonestándole que tomase mejor acuerdo. Nosotros somos de tan poco amor, que, si vemos un enemigo nuestro entre nuestros amigos, no podemos mostrar placer ni comer bocado con gana, sino que por uno pierden los otros nuestra comunicable familiaridad; mas como el amor de Cristo estuviese ardiendo a más no poder hasta la fin, no pudo impedirlo la presencia ni malicia conocida de Judas. ¡Oh ardientísimo Jesús, amador aún de tus enemigos, ¿quién pudiese pensar con qué entrañas de caridad te entregaste tú consagrado en las entrañas malignas de Judas tu entregador, y después viste que ni por esto se aplacó su malicia? Tú mismo le diste prisa para que ya te entregase a los judíos, pues que ya te había entregado a tus pecados cuando te recibió. Dice más el evangelista que sabía Jesús, como suficientísimo Redentor que ha de saber lo que redimoe, que eran todas las cosas que su Padre había de tomar en perdurable posesión venciendo al demonio. --Fray Francisco de Osuna, Ley del Amor Santo, c. 12
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La Caridad de Cristo y la Traición de Judas
(al estilo de Lope de Vega)

Lo que dice el Santo Evangelio,
como apunta el sabio Tomás,
es mostrar la gran maldad
que en Judas hubo, sin desvío:

que entre el amor más tibio
se endureció su vil faz,
pues vio la gracia sin más,
mas cerró su alma al auxilio.

Mas Cristo, fuego sin reposo,
que en su amor nada apaga,
arde en medio del traidor,

y aunque cruel, y aunque horroroso,
le dio su Cuerpo, 
y lavó sus pies con amor.

¡Oh ardiente amor sin medida,
que al enemigo abrazas,
y en sus entrañas negrizas
te das por su caída!

No huimos como hacemos
los hombres, frágiles almas,
que si un enemigo asoma,
la amistad se vuelve helada.

Mas Cristo, lleno de gracia,
supo que en Judas moraba
un pecado tan profundo,
que el mismo infierno pesa;

y aun así su amor no cede,
no cesa, no se apaga,
le amonesta y le invita
a que cambie su rumbo.

Y Tú, Jesús, puro y santo,
que en tu Pasión te entregas
a quien tu cuerpo rompe,
¿quién puede pensar tu llanto?

Que en manos del traidor
entregaste tu esencia,
y aún viendo su negrura
no perdiste paciencia.

Sabías, Señor supremo,
como Redentor sin pena,
que todo a tu Padre vuelve
por vencer la condena.

Así, aunque te entregaron
con hiel y negra pena,
tu amor fue ley eterna
que nunca se quebranta.

Source for translations and poetic versions: ChatGPT