Betrayal is part of life. Difficult to accept when experienced. Portrayed in literature in all the many cultures of the world and
frequently in the Christian Scriptures. Jesus is the telling example in
the New Testament and it wasn't only Judas. This was despite his words
of warning and after each one, in turn, asked: "Surely it's not I?"
The
Korean 'Me Too' movement has to do with a betrayal of friendship in
most cases. The president of the bishops' conference apologized for this
betrayal even among priests. A priest in a diocesan bulletin deals with
the issue. He doesn't know how this movement will change society.
Of
course many are not happy about the 'Me Too' movement and many support
the movement with their: 'With you' response. What was buried in society
has finally come out in the open? Gender inequality no longer is a
hidden agenda. The movement was waiting to explode within society.
Feelings against the power of money in society have always been there:
resentment of the weak towards power was bound to explode. The uncomfortableness between man the powerful one and woman the weak one comes to a
head. We are in the midst of change.
The Church is in society
and the priest is a part of society. When the clergy and religious are
guilty of such behavior the outrage is great. Society is shocked. We
should be thankful, says the writer that this is still the case. The
public still has greater expectations from the clergy and religious.
The
apostles we know lived very close to Jesus for three years. They ate
with him, laughed, cried, and underwent many hardships with him but they
couldn't give up their desire for power. How much more difficult in the
society in which we live to feel the presence of Jesus in our lives.
Judas was not able to overcome the feeling of guilt he experienced from
the betrayal and killed himself.
Peter who denied Jesus three
times a betrayal for which he repented with great sorrow and gave his
life for his Lord, became a great disciple. This is an example for all
of us. We are prone to make mistakes (which we hope will not
happen) but when they do we don't give up.
We don't deny or
make excuses for what was done but after great reflection, ask
forgiveness from God and the person hurt. Make the necessary
compensation to the victim and satisfaction for what was done and go
along with our lives.
We can lose the cow from the barn.This
can happen to anyone and for a religious person, it should be a step to a
more mature life but also the need to fix the barn.