The Home of the Betrayed

What is betrayal?

Of course, we know it when we see it and we hate it when we experience it. But what is it??

Some might say it is to be disloyal to another, but it seems to be something more than just a lack of loyalty. Not to minimize disloyalty, but it seems that we are sometimes disloyal to others through human weakness, whereas betrayal is a product of pride.

The difference between human weakness and pride is significant. We all fall short daily, probably hourly, due to human weakness. It is part of the tragedy and beauty of our condition that we aspire to high ideals but are inescapably unable to attain them. Our high ideals give us a sense of dignity, and our shortcomings a sense of humility. Together, it is what makes us human.

However, pride is a certain sickness in which we not only fall prey to human weakness but we defend our weakness as if we were in the right. It is one thing to have an uncharitable thought towards my neighbor or say a harsh word to another, but it is altogether different to then defend these thoughts or actions as if they were deserved. This is pride.

And this seems to be the appropriate category for betrayal. It is not just that one is disloyal to another, but that they do so with the intention to hurt and feel righteous in doing so.?

A man may abandon his post in war through fear of the enemy, and though this is certainly not an act worth memorializing, it is easy for us to sympathize with human weakness. But we do remember the names of the Benedict Arnold’s and Themistocles’ of history and we have little sympathy for them, because we recognize something inhumane about their betrayals. They do not simply flee from the enemy, they join forces with them.

As I was reflecting on this, I looked up the etymology of the word “betray" and it provided insight into how betrayal gains a different meaning within a Christian context. The suffix, “tray”, comes from a Latin word “tradere” which means to hand over and the prefix “be” is an old english prefix for thoroughly. So, to betray another is to thoroughly hand one over.?

It seems pretty clear in the midst of betrayal who is doing the handing over, but it is not exactly clear to whom we are being handed over? This question is a key to seeing how Christ has put the Devil in check-mate, or as Augustine says, how the Lord’s Cross was the Devil’s mousetrap.

The one who is betraying believes they are handing over the other to evil. Their intention is to harm. The devil can not resist the temptation to harm others and neither can those under his spell.?

But their hatred has blinded them. Though they think they are handing over the other to evil, they are really delivering him right into the lap of the Lord.?

Judas Iscariot believes he is delivering Jesus over to evil, but instead he brings about Christ’s Glory and his own misery. God has so arranged it that in inflicting pain we are harmed and in being wounded that we experience the healing power of His Love.

The words “Lord forgive them for they know not what they do” take on a totally different meaning from this perspective. It really is the persecutors who are most pitiable. And it helps us understand how St. Paul can say today that no one came to his defense, but plead that it not be held against them.?

But perhaps most of all, it shows us what Christ means when He says that “The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.” Too often we think that the Kingdom of God is some type of reward for those who have lived a good life.?

But Christianity is the revelation of how the God who is utterly transcendent is also incredibly immanent. The Kingdom of God is at hand, Christ is with us right here and right now, and perhaps He is closest of all to those who have been betrayed.