Today's Readings:
Isaiah 50:4-9
Psalm 69:8-10,21-22,31-34
Matthew 26:14-25
If you spend a little more time with anyone, they begin to unravel before your eyes. A person can be mysterious from afar. But once they become comfortable with you, they quickly lose their shield of protection and send both verbal and non-verbal cues that carry the messages of their true identity. So, when Judas responds to Jesus’ statement about his betrayer with, ‘Not I, Rabbi, surely?’, Jesus simply responds, ‘They are your own words’ (Matthew 26:25). Jesus could see through Judas’ pretence. Yet, he allowed the whole drama of betrayal to play out. Why?
Judas’ betrayal fulfils the scripture passage, “He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me” (Psalm 41:9 and 55:13).
Also, “Jesus must experience the incomprehension and the infidelity even of those within his innermost circle of friends and in this way fulfil the Scripture.”
Jesus’ betrayal foreshadows the breach of friendship which continues to go on today in the Church where many receive Jesus’ body and blood and continue to betray him by living unchristian lives. It also shows us how we betray those we claim to love by our unchristian actions.
At this hour of betrayal, Jesus takes upon himself the pain caused by betrayal in every era of history and endures every heartbreak we face to the bitter end.
Judas’ betrayal is also a warning against despair. Because we fail without God, we always need to return to Him in genuine remorse and repentance.
Never give up hope no matter how often you fail God and the people who love you. “Genuine remorse is marked by the certainty of hope born of faith in the superior power of the light that was made flesh in Jesus Christ.”
Because we have all experienced the heartbreak of failed love, we can unite our pains with Christ and still hold out mercy to those who offend us even as we hope for mercy from those we have injured.
The Holy Week will be special for you if you know that you are in the place of Judas and Jesus still loves you despite your unwillingness to renounce your sins, whether it is greed, pride, lust, anger, envy, gluttony or sloth. We all need God’s mercy and Jesus alone can deliver us.
JUDE-MARY OWOH
To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud. “Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart and lead me in Your path of righteousness. Thank you, Lord. Wash me with Your blood, I believe You died for me; on the third day, you rose again that I may be justified.”
If you said the prayer, Congratulations! Prayerfully look for a living church and report to the resident reverend, pastor or priest.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, in the depth of your love, you laid down your life for us, giving us an example of how to truly love. Help us, by your grace, to love others by laying down our lives for them in selfless service, patience and goodwill. Amen
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