Frank Sheed's book, To Know Christ Jesus, has been the subject of a previous post, and here I come back to Sheed on the subject of Judas and Satan. Sheed writes:
Priests and scribes were talking in the palace of the High Priest Caiaphas, when there came to them a man [Judas] who could solve at least part of their problem - the problem of arresting the troublemaker without causing a riot: for this man knew where Jesus would be spending the night.
Frank J. Sheed, To Know Christ Jesus (San Francisco, 1980 Ignatius Press, original edition 1962 Sheed and Ward, Inc.) at page 334.
Sheed discusses what may have moved Judas to act against Jesus. He concludes that Judas is "profoundly mysterious," and that "there is too much about Judas -the man of Kerioth, the only non-Galilean among the Twelve - that we do not know." To Know Christ Jesus at 334-335. But part of the answer here is Satan. St Luke says, "Satan entered into him." Lk 22:3 (RSV) (quoted in To Know Christ Jesus at 334).
We can't blame unseen spirits for sins committed and for all of the evils which believers encounter. But it's foolish to deny their presence. The best advice for the spiritual battle is this: "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." James 4:7 (RSV).
How do you resist the devil? It can't be done, except in the power of the Holy Spirit, but that will have to be the subject of another post.
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