What is a “fatal flaw?” It is defined as “a weakness which causes an otherwise noble or exceptional character to bring about their own downfall, and often, their eventual death. Examples of this could include hubris, misplaced trust, excessive curiosity, pride, and lack of self-control.” We’ve heard it said that “pride comes before the fall” and “curiosity killed the cat.”
The Catholic Church has still not recovered from the “priest scandals.” Clergymen who were viewed as good people, who may have been outstanding students in seminary, who believed God was calling them to the priesthood, had a fatal flaw that did them in and disgraced the Church.
Today the Church talks about a man with a fatal flaw (John13:21-38).
“Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, ‘Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.’ The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant.”
Peter nodded to John who was leaning on Jesus’ chest to ask Jesus who the one was.
“It is the one to whom I handed the morsel after I dipped it.” So, he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. So, Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly…’ So, Judas took the morsel and left at once.”
Who is Judas? He was the only one of the Twelve who came from Judea, possibly Jerusalem. More than likely who was better educated in money matters as was assigned the task of group treasurer. Like the other disciples he left everything to follow Jesus, travelled three years with him and went on mission with the others to proclaim the good news, heal people, and cast out demons. Apparently, he had the privileged place of sitting next to Jesus at the Last Supper. All said, how is it that Judas could possibly betray Jesus? John states it clearly: “Satan entered him.”
St. John concludes this episode with,
“And it was night.”
Of course it was night, in the literal sense–they had just finished dinner. Why did John say such an obvious thing? Commentators say that there is a deeper meaning to night. Judas left the light of Jesus’ presence and walked into the darkness of Satan’s scheme.
What was going on in the mind of Judas? Did he think that Jesus, as he had done before, would find a way out of this? Or did he realize that the authorities would do away with Jesus, and he would be left to fend for himself?
We ask, what was Judas’ fatal flaw. It may have been greed, for one evangelist noted that he sneaked money from the group purse to spend on himself. Maybe his attachment to money was stronger than his attachment to Jesus? Maybe it was pride. He couldn’t bear the thought of being humiliated along with Jesus and his disciples, or maybe it was plain old fear of losing control.
Whatever the flaw, it opened the door for Satan to enter Judas.
It makes us consider our own fatal flaws. It is sobering that a man who spent three years of his life, day in and day out, with the Son of God, could suddenly put himself in the hands of Satan. How important it is that we recognize and confess our own flaws, lest we, too, enter the night.
If we haven’t gone to confession this Lent, now is the time to do so.
“For you are my hope O Lord” (Ps 71:5).
