Is It Me?
Simone Riva - "Dear friends, this question—‘Is it me?’—is perhaps one of the most sincere we can ask ourselves. It is not the question of the innocent, but of the disciple who discovers his fragility. It is not the cry of the guilty, but the whisper of those who, even though they want to love, know that they can hurt. It is in this awareness that the journey of salvation begins" (Leo XIV, from the General Audience of August 13, 2025).
Last Wednesday, the Pope launched a very interesting provocation for those who have not yet lost their sense of self. Starting from the story of Judas's betrayal, as reported by the evangelist Mark, the Holy Father clears the field of any possible attempt to shift onto others the responsibility for the evil we see around us and within us, thus distinguishing indignation from sadness: “The disciples' reaction is not anger, but sadness.
They are not indignant, they are saddened. It is a pain that arises from the real possibility of being involved.”Moralism, in fact, always ready to enter the fray as soon as it sees a small opening, leads us into the trenches of accusation, arming us with everything we need to emerge unscathed from the battle. It does not allow wounds, it does not tolerate weakness, and it disguises itself as responsibility.It is precisely in reference to this last word that we discover the most significant contribution of what the Pope said last Wednesday, outlining its most authentic characteristics.How often do we use the word “responsibility” with the power it requires to exercise or the subtle reference to consistency it demands in mind? Ultimately, we always place ourselves at the center and origin of everything, improvised supermen who believe they are always on top of things.
The story of Judas allows Christ to show what responsibility really is: “We are accustomed to judging. God, however, accepts suffering. When he sees evil, he does not take revenge, but grieves.” The Lord teaches his followers to “respond” by bringing out the real questions from reality.Thus, even the dramatic story of the betrayal of one of his own becomes an opportunity for everyone to feel involved: “Is it me?”
Before Christ, in the moments that represent the peak of His earthly life, the impetus of the first call returns to the forefront, and Judas's ‘no’ becomes an opportunity for all the others to verify their “yes.”Why did they not leave? Why are they still there before Him, even though disappointment and incomprehension about God's method have nestled in the hearts of many? Surely they had already experienced personally that “Jesus is not scandalized by our fragility. He knows well that no friendship is immune to the risk of betrayal. But Jesus continues to trust.”
Now, however, the Son of God accepts the responsibility of having chosen them one by one. He does not regret having pronounced their names, having involved them in His friendship, having sent them out to give witness to Him, not out of a desire for consistency, but for the sake of their destiny: "This is the hope: to know that even if we fail, God never fails.
Even if we betray Him, He never stops loving us."In an instant, they find themselves suspended in the vertigo of their vocation: had they said ‘yes’ to Him or to the responsibility that His proposal demanded? “The way Jesus speaks about what is about to happen is surprising. He does not raise His voice, He does not point His finger, He does not mention Judas by name. He speaks in such a way that each one can ask himself."Ultimately, it is simple, but only for the bold, to take up the challenge that the Lord throws down to our lives: to enjoy His work. And so our disarmed responsibility also finds its place.
Unrevised translation by the author.
