We are creating a hell on earth with our betrayal of the planet

BETRAYAL is a universal theme commemorated today, Spy Wednesday. This is the liturgical memorial when, by tradition, Judas took 30 pieces of silver to betray Jesus, and entered into a pact he would live to regret, but could never escape — no matter that he would end up “throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple”.

Betrayal, unlike a change of mind, is irreversible. Judas “departed, and he went and hanged himself”. Whether myth or history, Judas is an emblem of a great human truth. For every good intention there is a serpent tempting us in our weakness, vanity, or greed into treachery. Once in the mists of time our betrayal cost us the Garden of Eden.

The story of Paradise Lost, of satanic pride leading to irreversible fall, is our story. We have all enjoyed a little piece of the action. Except on climate change, it seems we cannot get enough, no matter how often or how terribly we are warned of an irreversible cataclysm ahead. If we ever fall into that cataclysm, we will never crawl out of it. But no matter, we go on.