Most of us have someone we find very hard to forgive — and Holy Week has a version of that person for many Christians. His name is Judas. But before we spend this week nursing contempt for him, consider this: Judas wasn't the only one who failed Jesus that night. Every disciple fled. Peter denied Him three times. And if we're honest — so have we. This Holy Week, don't cast yourself as the bystander. You're in the story too. And Jesus died for everyone in it.

In Matthew 5:22, Jesus says, "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment...But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire." In today's world this may be a startling statement, considering how quickly and often demeaning words are thrown around. Maybe your parents or spouse upsets you, or someone cuts you off on the highway. I know I've been cut off a lot recently. How quickly do we mutter or blurt