Judas was among those Jesus wanted. Jesus chose him freely, just as he chose the others. There is no suggestion that Jesus deliberately selected a betrayer; instead, he believed in Judas’ potential for good and entrusted him with a real share in his mission, just as he did with the others. Jesus wanted Judas, and Judas accepted this call by his own free will... but in the end Judas did not ultimately want Jesus.
This dynamic touches our own discipleship. The Lord’s call comes to us again and again throughout our lives: “Come, follow me.” But our response must be freely given, continuously, consistently. He invites us first to companionship, to live close to his heart in prayer. From that friendship springs a mission: he sends us out to share what we have received. The call and response constantly get renewed and refreshed. Like the twelve, we are wanted by Christ; the question becomes whether we want him in return, and whether we consistently say 'yes' to his call at every stage in our life.
--Fr. Patrick van der Vorst
Image source: José Ferraz de Almeida, Jr., The Remorse of Judas (1880),
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/Almeida_J%C3%BAnior_-_Remorso_de_Judas%2C_1880.jpg
Quotation source and commentary on this painting
