Peter and Judas: Two Sinners, but only one a Saint

Two figures who have significant parts on the road to Calvary are Peter and Judas. 

How exactly was Peter, the great saint, rock of our Church and first Pope, the same and different than Judas Iscariot, the man who betrayed Jesus with a kiss? 

 Actually, there are many similarities and one very profound difference: Both had respectable positions among the apostles. Each, on various occasions, had to be rebuked or corrected by Jesus. They weren't perfect, but no one would have expected them to fail as they did. Jesus warned both about what they would do, before they did it. They did it anyway. Each regretted his actions and was filled with sorrow. 

 From this point on, they responded in opposite ways: One "quit," whereas the other "turned around" and kept going. Each experienced the ultimate consequences of his actions. Judas and Peter both had sorrow over what they had done. But there was a big difference in the nature of their sorrow: Judas had a sorrow that led only to regret and eventual despair. Peter had a sorrow that went beyond regret - all the way to a changed life. 

It's the difference between experiencing repentance and remorse. Remorse without repenting, not allowing oneself to accept the mercy of God and not having a renewed heart, is empty and hollow. Peter, who we know denied knowing Jesus three times, who abandoned Jesus and his friends, ultimately returned to the mission with renewed zeal and a commitment to follow Jesus, even to his own death. 

 Both men were not perfect, far from it! But imperfection in our lives does not indicate that we have no hope of salvation. Peter accepted this, accepted his own sinfulness and became a great saint. As the late Father Benedict Groeschel once suggested: had Judas allowed himself to accept his own sinfulness and chose to change his heart, he also could have been one of the greatest saints in the life of the church. Father imagined a painting of "St Judas the Penitent", kneeling in humility at the foot of the cross. Alas, it was not so. 

 This Lent, may our hearts be changed. And may we each accept our imperfections as we grow in the holiness of everyday saints. 

 Here's a wonderful video about St Peter:

With love and prayers, 

Simple Soul