This loss of faith in Our Lord severed Judas’ union with him, and that severance in turn led him to commit the sin of embezzling from the common purse. The three went together.

At first he had been attracted by Jesus, had followed his call, and had been one of his company. But the Divine love which began by drawing him, ended by repelling him, until on Maundy Thursday, when the Twelve were all with Jesus in the Upper Room, Judas “…went out. And it was night” (NRSV, John 13:30).

It was then that Jesus said to the Eleven, “I am the vine, you are the branches…Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers…” (NRSV, John 15:5,6). Thus did the separation of Judas become final and complete. He had been with Christ, but not of Christ: he ended by being without Christ altogether.