Forgiving Judas

I’ve been worried lately that people may be tired of hearing about how hard this year has been for me; tired of hearing me talk about forgiveness and the peace it has brought me. I apologize if I’ve come off sounding preachy. It hasn’t been my intent. I’m a passionate person and get excited about things that mean a lot to me. You should see me when I go birding! I scream and squeal and excitedly hyperventilate, then love telling those who will let me nerd out to them all about it. What I have learned about forgiveness has been life-changing for me, and the peace it has given me has been truly instrumental in my survival—and joy—this past year, so I’ve been, perhaps overly, excited about it and wanting to share. This poem I recently wrote means a great deal to me. I hope it might mean something to someone else too.

Forgiving Judas
by Tacy Gibbons

I’d been betrayed before. 
This one hurt the worst.

I wonder if Peter, James, John
and the other disciples
followed Christ’s commandment to forgive.
Did they forgive the man
who sold their teacher, their friend—
the Son of God Himself—
for thirty pieces of silver?

Have I forgiven him?

Maybe God won’t.
He doesn’t have to.
But we are commanded to forgive all.

I’d been betrayed before.
Lied to, manipulated.
I’d even been stabbed in the heart.

This time was the worst.

But I had already battled demons
and wrestled with monsters.
The flames of fire that licked at my skin
did not burn me.
They refined and rebuilt me.
More resilient than I was before.

I still love you.
I forgive you—
and Judas.
I will let the Master take care of the rest.