It All Begins with the Kiss: Reflections on Discipleship, the Judas Kiss, and the Seven Deadly Sins

By Spencer F. Stopa

Everyone likes to be kissed. Whenever Jesus graces us and gives us the kiss of friendship, we must respond. Do we give Him the kiss of gratitude or, like Judas, the deceitful kiss inspired by the seven deadly sins?

Spencer F. Stopa (MA sacred theology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) is a retired psychiatric and rehab nurse. His hobbies include gardening and reflecting on the human condition through a Christian lens. He lives in Mesa, Arizona, with his wife of thirty-nine years.

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9781638443339

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It All Begins with the Kiss

Reflections on Discipleship, the Judas Kiss, and the Seven Deadly Sins

Spencer F. Stopa

ISBN 978-1-63844-332-2 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63844-333-9 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Spencer F. Stopa

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Due to the changing nature of the internet, if there are any web addresses, links or URLs included in the manuscript, these may have been changed and may no longer be accessible.

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Bible-ography

Rationale for Using Multiple Biblical Versions

Three True Voices of Christianity

Part One: Discipleship and the Judas Kiss

Discipleship and the Judas Kiss

Very Important Prologue

Full Disclosure or Four Caveats

Those Interested in Jesus

The Seekers

The Followers

The Disciples

The Friends

Kiss in the Old Testament

Kiss in the New Testament

The Judas Kiss

A Short Concluding Summation

Part Two: Kissing off the Seven Deadly Sins

Kissing Off the Seven Deadly Sins

The Seven Deadly Sins

Do We Kiss Idols?

A Short Concluding Summation

Do We Kiss Jesus with Unclean Lips?

A Short Concluding Summation

Do We Resent Others Receiving a Kiss from Jesus?

A Short Concluding Summation

Do We Give a Sincere Kiss of Peace?

A Short Concluding Summation

Do We Make an Effort to Kiss Jesus?

A Short Concluding Summation

Do We Stop with one Hershey Kiss?

A Short Concluding Summation

Do We Kiss Good-Bye to Our Stuff?

A Short Concluding Summation

Very Important Postscript

Appendix 1

Appendix 2

Wealth: A Book Review Essay

Bibliography

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, Copyright © 1989, 1993 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

All other Scripture quotations cited in this book are marked by their abbreviations as listed in the Bible-ography, which hereby becomes a part of this copyright page.

All art work by Vicki Shuck is used by permission, All rights reserved.

Mary Crowned Queen of Heaven by Jen Norton. Used with permission. www.JenNortonArtStudio.com

Kissing the Face of God by Morgan Weistling. Copyright © 2021.

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610), ‘The Taking of Christ', 1602. On indefinite loan to the National Gallery of Ireland from the Jesuit Community, Leeson St., Dublin who acknowledge the kind generosity of the late Dr. Marie Lea-Wilson, 1992. Photo © National Gallery of Ireland.

Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

A Place at the Table Words: Shirley Erena Murray © 1998 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

The Summons Text by John L. Bell and Graham Maule, © 1987 Wild Goose Resource Group c/o Iona Community, GIA Publications Inc., agent.

To Chris, my wife, who graciously endured benign neglect while I was writing; and to my daughters, Nicky, Natasha, and Franciszka, who graciously helped me write digitally; and to Diane S. and Julie P., who graciously prodded me to write.

Bible-ography

Abbreviations of Bible Versions Cited

AMPC Scripture quotations marked (AMPC) are taken from the Amplified Bible: Classic Edition, Copyright© 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

ASV American Standard Version. Public domain.

CCB Scripture quotations marked CCB are taken from the Christian Community Bible, Copyright © Claretian Publications. Used by permission.

CEB Scripture quotations marked CEB are taken from the Common English Bible, copyright © 2011, Common English Bible, Nashville TN. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

CEV Contemporary English Version, Copyright © 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission.

CJB Scripture quotations taken from the Complete Jewish Bible. Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stem. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

DBH Scripture quotations marked DBH are taken from The New Testament-A Translation, copyright © 2017, Yale University Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DRA Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition. Public domain.

EOB (The EOB or) Eastern/Greek Orthodox Bible: New Testament, © Laurent Cleenewerck, Editor, 2007-2012, revised for this edition 2013. All rights reserved.

ESV ESV Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible, (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

ESVCE ESV Catholic Edition. Published as the Augustine Bible by the Augustine Institute 2019 (Greenwood Village CO). Scripture quotations are from The ESV Catholic Edition with Deuterocanonical Books, copyright © 2017 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

GW God's Word is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations Bible Society. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by Gods Word to the Nations Bible Society. All rights reserved.

HCSB Scripture quotations marked HCSB have been taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB® and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

JB Scripture quotations marked (JB) are from The Jerusalem Bible, copyright © 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Penquin Random House Inc. Reprinted by permission. KJ Authorized (King James) Version. Public Domain, 1958

KJ21 Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, 21st Century King James Version (KJ21®), Copyright © 1994. Deuel Enterprises Inc., Gary, SD 57237. Used by permission.

KNOX The Holy Bible translated from the Latin Vulgate by Msgr. Ronald Knox, published by Baronius Press 2012. © Westminster Diocese. Used with permission.

KNT Scripture quotations marked KNT taken from THE KINGDOM NEW TESTAMENT: A Contemporary Translation. Copyright © 2011 by Nicholas Thomas Wright. Published by Harper One. All Rights reserved.

MEV Scripture taken from the Modern English Version, Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

MLB The Modern Language Bible. Copyright © 1990 by Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody, Massachusetts. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

MLV Quotations marked (MLV) are from Modern Literal Version 2015 Update, Createspace.com

MSG Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

NABRE Scripture texts in this work designated by NABRE are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition ©2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC: and are used by permission of the copyright holder. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright holder.

NCV Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, New Century Version, copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing, Dallas, Texas 75039. Used by permission.

NEB Scripture quotations marked (NEB) are taken from The New English Bible with the Apocrypha, Copyright © 1970 Oxford University Press, Used by permission.

NET Quotations designated (NET) are from the New English Translation NET Bible® Copyright © 1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press LLC. http://netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

NIV Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica Inc.®

NKJV Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 By Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

NLT Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

NLV Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New Life Version. Copyright © 1969–2003 by Christian Literature International, P.O. Box 777, Canby OR 97013. Used by permission.

NRSVCE Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition. Copyright © 1989,1993 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

RNJB Scripture quotations marked (RNJB) are from the Revised New Jerusalem Bible, copyright © 2019 by Darton, Longmann & Todd Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Penquin Random House Inc. Reprinted by permission.

RSVCE Scripture Quotations are from Revised Standard Version of the Bible-Second Catholic Edition (Ignatius Edition) Copyright © 2006 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

TEV Scripture quotations marked TEV are taken from the Bible in Today's English Version, Second Edition © 1992. American Bible Society. Used by permission.

TLB Scripture quotations marked (TLB) are taken from The Living Bible copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

TPT Scripture quotations marked TPT are from the Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017,2018 by BroadStreet® Publishing Group LLC. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ThePassionTranslation.com

WEB The World English Bible. Public domain, 2016.

WS Quotations marked WS taken from The Word on the Street by Rob Lacey. Copyright © 2003, 2004 by Rob Lacey. Used by permission of Zondervan.

Rationale for Using Multiple Biblical Versions

For many years, the author only owned Bibles approved for use by Catholics: the Jerusalem Bible and the New American Bible . In 1973 his Bible library increased by 50 percent with the addition of the Revised Standard Version , An Ecumenical Edition . It was the first English language Bible approved for use by Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox Christians. Then in 1976 the author acquired the Good News Bible , the first widely sold, non-paraphrase Bible in modern, contemporary English. Two years later, he bought the New International Version, which quickly became the gold standard among those not locked into the King James or a version approved by their denomination. The Catholic Church, however, failed to approve the NIV, so it could not be used officially in Catholic schools or Bible classes, and certainly not for liturgical prayer. Having become addicted to best in class, regardless of source, the author now has three full shelves of Bibles.

The idea to use many different translations in this essay comes from Rick Warren. In his 2002 best seller, The Purpose Driven Life, he used fifteen different translations. He gives two reasons in defending his approach. First, every translation has limitations, whether done by a scholarly committee or an individual. This idea echoes (St.) Efraim (Efrem). What he says in this quote about those who study the word of God applies especially to those who translate it.

The Lord has colored his word with many hues so that each person who studies it can see in it what he loves. He has hidden many treasures in his word so that each of us is enriched as we meditate on it… He who comes into contact with some share of its treasure should not think that the only thing contained in the word is what he himself has found. He should realize that he has only been able to find that one thing from among many others. (http:/restlesspilgrim.net/blog/2013/10/08/prayer-of-st-ephraim/)

Second, most denominations mandate or favor a certain translation which, due to repetition and longevity, becomes all too familiar and loses its ability to influence and challenge. While familiarity with a certain version of the Scriptures may bring comfort, it may also fail to confront. Even worse, sometimes familiarity breeds contempt.

Thus, this essay utilizes sixty-one different translations. Only those actually cited are listed in the bible-ography, along with their abbreviations. For a complete explanation of the author's methodology, see Full Disclosure.

Three True Voices of Christianity

Are you listening to this in silence? I am much happier at your silence than at applause; for applause and praise make me more famous, but this silence makes you more virtuous. I know that what I say is painful, but I cannot tell you how great a benefit it contains.

—(St.) John Chrysostom, On Wealth and Poverty

I did not learn my theology all at once but I had to search deeper for it, where my temptations took me…Not understanding, reading or speculation, but living—nay, dying and being damned—make a theologian.

—Martin Luther, Source Unknown

The Church was put here to convert humankind, not to tell people that everything that they do is all right; and, because of that, naturally, it irritates people. Everything that corrects us irritates us.

—(St.) Oscar Romero, Through the Year with Oscar Romero

Part One: Discipleship and the Judas Kiss

Discipleship and the Judas Kiss

His mind was riveted on the Messiah. He is one of our sons, he cried. That is why the Scriptures call him the son of man! Why do you think thousands of Israel's men and women have coupled, generation after generation? To rub their backsides and titillate their groins? No! All those thousands and thousands of kisses were needed to produce the Messiah!

—Nikos Kazantzakis, The Last Temptation of Christ

But let him kiss me with the kiss of his mouth, whose gracious presence and eloquence of wonderful teaching causes a spring of living water to well up in me to eternal life (Jn. 4:14)… Listen carefully here. The mouth which kisses signifies the Word who assumes human nature.

—(St.) Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons on The Song of Songs: Sermon 2

Never lose the simplicity of just falling in love with Jesus and simply blowing Him a big kiss.

—Sam Hinn, Kissing the Face of God

Very Important Prologue

Anyone thinking this essay about a kiss deals with epidemiological studies on a common source of germs, or on a more-positive note, with a popular form of sex foreplay, will be severely disappointed—and is hereby advised to read no farther. Likewise, those interested in how various authors describe a kiss differently in harlot (sorry, harlequin) romances should look elsewhere. Lastly, nothing will be found here for art critics craving yet another analysis of The Kiss , the iconic painting by Gustav Klimt, or The Kiss , the eye-catching sculpture by Auguste Rodin.

This essay deals with the most famous kiss in history—and it's not the popular Hershey's candy or the ever-popular American rock band.

It is the kiss given by Judas to betray Jesus the night before he was crucified. Some might argue the Judas kiss is better called the most infamous kiss ever. Agreed! It actually is. And that is precisely why it became the most famous in the sense of most widely known.

Since Judas was a disciple of Jesus, Christian discipleship will also be dealt with. Over the years, numerous books have been written on the topic, and a survey of only the most relevant lies beyond the scope of the essay. Instead, the reflections here will largely center around the most poignant and most widely known book on discipleship of the past century.

As Dietrich Bonhoeffer explained in his classic work: We can only achieve perfect liberty and enjoy fellowship with Jesus when his command, his call to absolute discipleship, is appreciated in its entirety (The Cost of Discipleship, 40). (n.b., Reading the notes at the end of a chapter or the end of a book is a hassle that most readers avidly avoid. Instead, this essay will immediately give the source, author, and page number the first time a reference is cited, and after that only the title and page. The complete publishing information will be given in the bibliography.)

At a wedding, after the exchange of vows, the absolute bond between the couple is signified and sealed with the kiss. You may kiss one another now. Similarly, the absolute bond between Jesus and his disciples today is sealed, is made or broken, with the kiss. [n.b., An offbeat abbreviated paraphrase of the Bible in British slang by Rob Lacey has sealed with a kiss (Matthew 26:47–56) (WS, 324) to describe the betrayal of Jesus by Judas.]

Obviously, this is not an actual, physical kiss—as in the Garden of Gethsemane—but a metaphorical, symbolic kiss signifying the spiritual reality of being graced, of being touched (another metaphor) by God. (St.) Bernard of Clairvaux wrote extensively on the kiss as a symbol of the mystical union of Christ and the disciple. He stated:

Listen carefully here. The mouth which kisses signifies the Word who assumes human nature;…(Bernard of Clairvaux: Selected Works, Sermon 2, II, 3, 216). I do not presume to think that I shall be kissed by his [Jesus's] mouth. That is the unique felicity and singular prerogative of the humanity he assumed. But more humbly, I ask to be kissed by the kiss of his mouth… O happy kiss, and wonder of amazing self-humbling which is not a mere meeting of lips, but the union of God with man. The touch of lips signifies the bringing together of souls. (Ibid., II, 2, 3, 216–217)

No two souls were more united than those of Jesus and his mother, Mary, the perfect, nonwavering, never-sinning disciple. Recognizing this, the Council of Ephesus declared Mary the theotokos, literally God-bearer, or more commonly, Mother of God. Kissed by God spiritually, she had the privileged, totally unique opportunity to physically kiss and be kissed by the Son of God, Jesus. This reality is beautifully expressed by the artist Morgan Weistling in his painting, Kissing the Face of God.

Kissing the Face of God by Morgan Weisling

This painting reminds us of our lifelong challenge as disciples of Jesus to allow him to kiss us and to offer him a kiss in return. The failure of Judas in this regard comprises Part One. However, like Judas, we sometimes offer Jesus a deceitful kiss, a kiss inspired by one of the seven deadly sins. This idea will be explored in Part Two.

Simply stated, this essay, along with the art and music referred to, seeks to stimulate the theological neurons of bishops, pastors, homilists, preachers, spiritual directors, professors, and all Christians who seek to live more fully Jesus's call to discipleship, to be kissed lovingly by him and to then kiss him gratefully in return. It is hoped that even Scripture scholars and professional theologians will find something of value in these semi-scholarly, imaginative musings.

However, before delving into our topic, some explanations of the author's unique methodology will be provided in the following full disclosure.

Full Disclosure or Four Caveats

Caveat 1. The author is a lifelong Roman Catholic, and his theologizing has been shaped accordingly. The author readily admits that those of other denominations, both Christian and Jewish, oftentimes have better insights, especially in regard to the scriptures. Consequently, the author does no original translating, deferring to those with expertise in this area.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) and only book, chapter, and verse will be given. However, when