Wednesday of Holy Week - April 8

Isaiah 50:4-9 Psalm 69 Matthew 26:14-25

In today’s Gospel, we learn Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, was paid “thirty pieces of silver” to hand over Jesus. Just days later, at the Passover supper, Jesus instituted the Eucharist with all Twelve – an event we will consider tomorrow night with the beginning of the Triduum. Tonight, though, we focus on the fact that Judas, the betrayer, nonetheless “reclined at table,” partaking of the body and blood of Christ in the immediate presence of his Lord and his brother disciples.

How bitter it surely was for our Lord, reclining with those he loved most, those who had not melted away after his diffi cult and unexpected teachings, to know that one of these intimates – Judas – had betrayed him at the very culmination of his ministry. Today’s Psalm focuses on the bitterness of betrayal: “I have become an outcast to my brothers… Insult has broken my heart, and I am weak…” Already at supper, Jesus is experiencing the nearly infinite agony of all of our sins of betrayal. (As the supper shows, it is quite possible even for those in direct communion with Christ and his Church to “betray.”) Today, we should consider how, for our sake, Jesus was taking upon himself all betrayal and sin, within and without his Church.

Likewise, imagine the disciples’ horror upon learning that one of them would betray Jesus. Perhaps each disciple searched his own soul, heart racing in a terrible moment of doubt, wondering whether some dimly perceived weakness would manifest itself as “betrayal” during the impending reckoning. Each brought that fear to Jesus: “surely it is not I?” Many of these – Peter included – did betray Jesus, but did not surrender to despair and were reconciled with Jesus. Judas’s question to Jesus, however, was dishonest. He sought no reconciliation. Soon after, therefore, the full ugliness of his betrayal overwhelmed him. Today we should consider all the times we have betrayed Jesus and resolve to be reconciled to him.

Q: Challenges: Are we willing to admit and ask forgiveness for all of the times we have betrayed those we love the most, including our own brothers and sisters in Christ? Now think of the times those same people have betrayed us – are we willing to forgive each of them, as Christ forgives us?

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