My Judas

A couple weeks ago at church, one of the Pastors recited a story that was very memorable to me. I am actually surprised that I have never heard of the story, considering I am married to a baseball fanatic. The story was about two professional baseball players, Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese. Jackie Robinson was, as we know, the first African-American professional baseball player. He and his Brooklyn Dodger teammate, Pee Wee Reese developed quite the friendship on and off the field. During one of Jackie's first games, the entire stadium booed him. With the distracting boos, Jackie just stood at second base, ready and waiting to play ball. He expected nothing less than what the audience was handing to him. However, Pee Wee Reese was not too thrilled about the booing. Reese was so upset, that he threw his glove to the ground, walked over to the second base and wrapped his arm around Jackie Robinson's shoulder. With this gesture, the entire stadium grew instantly quiet. It was such an amazing act of kindness and loyalty between the two men, that they even made a statue to commemorate the amazing occasion.
This story was to provide an example of loyalty. Has loyalty become a forgotten virtue? In the book of Matthew, we learn that one of Jesus's disciples was planning to betray him. During Passover, Jesus announced that he knew someone would betray him. Although he knew it was Judas, he still showed Judas kindness by offering him bread and wine. Judas, one of Jesus's 12 disciples, had lost his loyalty towards his master.
I have faced my own Judas in a more modern, updated version. My Judas also involves a mix of Goliath. Even though I knew my Judas was being nasty and spiteful, I continued to pray for them. However, I have not yet learned to react in the same kindness that Jesus showed his Judas. With my Judas, I only pray b/c that's what the bible tells me to do, not b/c I want to. I have yet to grasp the concept of "turning the other cheek." This, so far, has become my hardest challenge in my Christian faith.
Two weeks ago, during my children's ministry class, the kids were shown a video regarding the good Samaritan. For those of you who don't know the story, a Jew was beaten near death. While dying on the ground, a Priest and a Levite passed him by. Two men to be known by their faith. It was a Samaritan, who was known to be an enemy of the Jewish people, who was the one that stopped. He took pity on the man and cared for him. He even took him to an inn and provided money so that the innkeeper could look over him while he was out.
When I reflect back on my Judas and I think about the story of Jesus and his Judas in Matthew or the good Samaritan in Luke, it reminds me of the person I need, that I want to be. With my Judas, I need to take pity on her like the Samaritan took pity on the Jew and I need to provide to her like Jesus provided to his Judas. "When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him." -Proverbs 16:7 <------- This is a scripture I need to focus and reflect on by showing loyalty to my faith.