Insincerity is the mark of the devil, says Pope Benedict

Pope Benedict XVI spoke to the crowds in Rome on August 26 that insincerity is “the mark of the devil” as is notable when Judas Iscariot continued to follow Jesus despite his unbelief.

 

“The problem is that Judas did not go away, and his most serious fault was falsehood, which is the mark of the devil. This is why Jesus said to the Twelve: ‘One of you is a devil’,” said the Pope in his Angelus address to pilgrims at Castel Gandolfo.

 

Pope Benedict said that Catholics revere the Virgin Mary and pray to her to fortify their faith in Jesus Christ. Like St Peter, Catholics are called "to be since with Jesus Christ and all people.”

 

Offering continued reflections on Jesus's discourses at the synagogue of Capernaum, the Pope said Jesus identified himself as “the living bread which came down from heaven” many of those who had followed him, records St. John in his Gospel, “drew back and no longer went about with him.” 

 

Asked by Jesus if they too will leave, St. Peter replied on behalf of the Twelve “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”  The exception, said the Pope, was Judas Iscariot who “could have left, as many of the disciples did; indeed, he would have left if he were honest.” Instead, Judas chose to remain with Jesus. Not because of faith or love, said the Pope, but out of a secret desire to take vengeance on his master.

 

“Because Judas felt betrayed by Jesus, and decided that he in turn would betray him. Judas was a Zealot, and wanted a triumphant Messiah, who would lead a revolt against the Romans.” Jesus, however, “had disappointed those expectations.”

 

The Pope, turning to the remaining 11 apostles who did believe, reminded listeners of “a beautiful commentary” of St. Augustine in which the Church Father observed how St. Peter “believed and understood.” “He does not say we have understood and believed, but we believed and understood. We have believed in order to be able to understand,” wrote St. Augustine in his Commentary on the Gospel of John.

 

After reciting the Angelus prayer, the Pope welcomed a new class of seminarians to Rome’s Pontifical North American College. “Dear seminarians, use your time in Rome to conform yourselves more completely to Christ. Indeed, may all of us remain faithful to the Lord, even when our faith in his teachings is tested. May God bless you all!”

 

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