…judges Francis’ idea on Judas being a poor, penitent man
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Judas scorned charity, abandoned his own Master, hated his brethren, and walked out into the darkness
Oh! How many good things, how much joy do we forsake without charity! Despising it, Judas abandoned of the midst of Apostles’ group. He strode into the darkness, throwing away the true Light of his own Master and having hatred toward his own brethren. On this account Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, affirms: ‘Judas prevaricated, going out to his own place’ (Acts 1:25). And in turn John the Theologian says: ‘He who hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and does not know where he goes for the shadows have blinded his eyes’ (1 Jn 2:11). (Saint Ephraem of Nisibis. Hom. de charitate sive dilectone – Opera omnia (G. Vossio, Rome, 1589), vol. I, p. 12)
