Truly being Jesus' Disciple!

Today's gospel  is a reading of the Passion of Jesus according to Luke! The gospel, Luke 22: 14-23:56, begins with Jesus celebrating the Passover with the apostles and ends with Jesus being crucified between two criminals.  At the beginning of the Passover meal, Jesus says: "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it again until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God." Jesus then takes a cup and says: "'Take this and share it among yourselves; for I tell you that from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.' Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.'  And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, 'This is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.' And yet behold, the hand of the one who is to betray me is with me on the table; for the Son of Man indeed goes as it as been determined; but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed.' And they began to debate among themselves who among them would do such a deed."  

The twelve apostles absolutely had no idea who among them who walked with Jesus for three years, talked with him, listened to His preaching, healed in His name could ever betray him to the very persons who were seeking to take his life.  Later that night when Jesus, with three of the apostles, were in the Garden of Olives, "...a crowd approached and in front was one of the Twelve, a man named Judas." And they knew!

How could this possibly have happened? How could a follower of Jesus betray Jesus? Could it be that Judas was only a hearer of the Word but not one who understood Jesus' teaching or lived it truthfully? Could it be that Judas knew "religion" but really had no relationship with Jesus?  The same could be true of you and me!  Do we understand, internalize and live the teachings of Jesus or do we simply hear and not understand, hear and not apply the words of the Scriptures?  If so, we are vulnerable to betraying Jesus, as was Judas.  Do we know religion but not know Jesus, that is, we have not developed a relationship with Jesus, as one would with a best friend? If so, again, we are vulnerable to betraying Him, as was Judas.