Wednesday of Holy Week 

Isaiah 50:4-9

Matthew 26:14-25

SURELY NOT I LORD? 

Most of the time when we read Scripture, or hear it read out loud.  We most often miss the intensity of the drama inherent in the situation described: the pathos, the poignancy, the passion. This is why reflecting upon it is so important because it allows us to see, hear, and feel things we otherwise wouldn't, and realize things that we might not otherwise realize. Consider today's gospel story.

A poet once said that “sharper than a serpent’s tooth is a thankless child”; but what shall we say of a disciple who would betray his own Master: an apostle who could sell out his Lord? Surely this was not the least bitter part of the cup of suffering which our Lord drank. The Church recalls this event of betrayal so that we might realize that all of us are capable of behaving like Judas. Judas Iscariot had one of the highest possible religious privileges. He was a chosen apostle and companion of Christ; he was an eyewitness of our Lord’s miracles and a hearer of his sermons; he saw what Abraham and Moses never saw, and heard what David and Isaiah never heard; he lived in the society of the eleven apostles; he was a fellow-laborer with Peter, James and John: and chosen particularly to be in charge of the common funds; but for all this his heart was never changed because of the love of money. 

The infamy of Judas' betrayal made his name synonymous with treason. It did not have to be this way. Judas had great potential and an opportunity to go down in history alongside Peter, John, and the others. There was nothing in his character that alerted the other apostles about the duplicity in his heart. He was the treasurer (John 12:6); a position of great trust in any organization (even though, Matthew the tax collector was part of the group). Judas was destroyed by greed and avarice The words of the apostle Paul should often ring in our ears: “The love of money is the root of all evil.” ( 2 Timothy 6:10 ). 

Scripture abounds in illustrations of this truth. For money Joseph was sold by his brethren(Gen37:13-14); for money, Samson was betrayed to the Philistines by Delilah (Judges 16:1-21) Gehazi deceived Naaman and lied to Elisha (2kings 5:20-27); for money, Ananias and Sapphira tried to deceive Peter(Acts 5:1-11); for money, the son of God was delivered into the hands of wicked men. Matthew 26:45; Luke 24:7. Ruin is the fate of greed and betrayal. 

Let us all be on our guard against the love of money. The world is full of it in our days: the plague is near and abroad. Thousands who would abhor the idea of worshiping political juggernauts are not ashamed to make an idol of gold. We are all liable to the infection, from the least to the greatest. We may love money without having it, just as we may have money without loving it or without love ultimately. it is an evil that works very deceitfully: it carries us captives before we are aware of our chains. Once it gets mastery, it will harden, palsy, sear, freeze, blight, and wither our souls Remember that one leak may sink a ship: one unmortified sin may ruin a soul. 

PRAYER

Almighty God, we beg you to calm our fears. Grant us your protection and healing both in our soul and body. May You lead us away from all forms of betrayal and expose them. Cause our worries to disappear. Amen.