Some months ago I listened to a client tell me how her sister had betrayed her in connection with the estate of their father. My client is hardly alone as a victim of betrayal. It is a rare person who has not been betrayed by someone at sometime in his or her life. And it is certainly not a new phenomenon.
Early in the Bible we read about Joseph’s betrayal by his jealous siblings. Later we encounter David’s adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of his loyal soldier Uriah the Hittite, and David’s subsequent murder of Uriah to hide his adultery.
The greatest betrayal in the Bible and of all time was that of Jesus by Judas Iscariot. 
For thirty pieces of silver and, one assumes, a chance for some amount of recognition by the social and political elites of Jerusalem, Judas handed his Master over to the authorities who sought to kill him.
Judas’ act was not the only betrayal of Jesus that night. After Jesus’ arrest and after “all the disciples deserted him and fled” (Mt. 27:56), Peter crossed the Kidron Valley to the courtyard of the house of the high priest where Jesus had been taken. In short order, history’s second most famous betrayal occurred when Peter (on the very night of his ordination to the priesthood!) denied Jesus three times.
For historical betrayals beyond the pages of the Bible, that of St. Thomas More by Richard Rich, dramatized so well in the movie A Man For All Seasons, is notable. After Rich’s perjured testimony ensures More’s conviction for treason, More learns that Rich had only recently been appointed attorney general for Wales. At that point More admonishes Rich: “It profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world. But for Wales?”
But there is nothing new under the sun. Richard Rich of the 16th century is a poster boy for the pro abortion Catholic politicians of the 21st century who grievously afflict innocent children. Like Rich, they consider truth to be always flexible for their political advancement. Like Judas, they seem to always be in Gethsemane whenever it is politically expedient, ever ready with a kiss of betrayal, compensated with the silver of campaign contributions and political power. But as it was that spring night in Judea so long ago, the true cost of their betrayal is paid in blood. To be exact, a river of innocent blood!
The child conceived from David’s adultery was, Scripture tells us, struck by God, and later died. It was a punishment, Nathan the prophet told David. “But since you have utterly spurned the LORD by this deed, the child born to you must surely die” (2 Samuel 14).
However, the millions of innocent lives killed because of the actions of pro abortion Catholic politicians are lives not struck down by the God of the Bible as punishment for those politicians’ sins. On the contrary, these innocents are struck down by those self-serving politicians themselves, who act as malevolent gods, voting again and again for laws that promote and legalize the violent deaths of those innocents.
Yet there is hope. Even in the depths of sin the sinner can respond to the grace of God, and betrayals sometimes lead to redemption, as with David. “Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD.’ Nathan answered David: ‘The LORD on his part has forgiven your sin: you shall not die’” (2 Samuel 13).
Peter’s repentance is as famous as his sin. “Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: ‘Before the cock crows you will deny me three times.’ He went out and began to weep bitterly” (Mt. 26:75). Peter, forgiven by the one whom he betrayed, rose from the ashes of his guilt to lead the Church as first pope, and to then die on the cross in Rome as a martyr.
In contrast, Judas did not repent, but in his despair committed suicide. Richard Rich not only did not repent of his betrayal of Thomas More, but went on to betray others as he had betrayed More.
It remains to be seen what the pro abortion Catholic politicians in the United States Congress will do with the remainder of their political careers, and indeed with the rest of their earthly lives. Will they follow David and Peter, and repent? Or will they take Judas and Rich as their models, and continue to betray their God and the lives of the innocent to advance their careers? We hope and pray it will be David and Peter. But presently Judas Iscariot and Richard Rich appear to be well represented in the halls of Congress, and Wales seems always to be on the itinerary.
