Wednesday of Holy Week

March 28, 2018

Readings:

First Reading – Isaiah 50: 4-9a

Psalm 69

Second Reading –

Gospel reading according to Matthew (26: 14-25)

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Homily:  Betrayal by Judas for 30 pieces of silver

After Judas ate his meal, he went out and went to the chief priests selling out Jesus and hand him over to them.  “One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?’  They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time one he looked for an opportunity to hand him over” (Matthew 26: 14-16).  He sold Jesus, his Master and Teacher, for only 30 pieces of silver.  

In Zechariah 11:12–13, 30 pieces of silver is the price he received for his labor.  He took the coins and threw them "to the potter."  In Exodus 21:32, 30 pieces of silver was the price of a slave, so while Zechariah called the amount a "handsome price" (Zechariah 11:13), this could be sarcasm. When the chief priests decided to buy a field with the returned money, Matthew says that this fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet.  Namely, "They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me" (Matthew 27:9–10).  Matthew is telling his readers that, "like Jeremiah and Zechariah, Jesus attempts to lead his people with a prophetic and pastoral ministry, but instead he ends up suffering innocently at their hands."  Matthew may also be saying that "Jesus' death is a ransom, the price paid to secure a slave's freedom," and that the use of the blood money to buy a burial ground for foreigners (Matthew 27:7) may hint at the idea that "Jesus' death makes salvation possible for all the peoples of the world, including the Gentiles." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_pieces_of_silver).

“On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, ‘Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover’?”  (Matthew 26: 17).  Jesus already contacted the person who would lend them a place for them to celebrate the Passover.  “He said, ‘Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, The Teacher says, ‘My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.’  The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover” (Matthew 26: 18-19).  Everything was already set.  It was evening, and darkness hovering around the area.  Satan was there waiting to whom would bite his charm.  “When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve.  And while they were eating, he said, ‘Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.’  Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, ‘Surely it is not I, Lord.’  He said in reply, ‘He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me’.” (Matthew 26: 20-23).  Jesus was deeply distressed not because of his coming death but because one soul will be lose.  He cannot save all, not because of his will and power, but because that one chose different path, he chose different master and teacher and he sold his soul to Satan by his free will.  Jesus is losing one sheep in his fold. 

“The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed.  It would be better for that man if he had never been born” (Matthew 26: 24).  Jesus knew his forthcoming death.  What he distressed about was Judas, for he knew that Judas was the one who would betray him.  “Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, ‘Surely it is not I, Rabbi?’  He answered, ‘You have said so’.” (Matthew 26: 25).   

Note:

Judas' 30 Pieces of Silver 

Tyre, Phoenicia, 111 - 110 B.C., Judas' 30 Pieces of Silver
  "Then one of the 12, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, 'What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you?' And they covenanted with him for 30 pieces of silver." Matthew 26:14-15. Shekels of Tyre were the only currency accepted at the Jerusalem Temple and are the most likely coinage with which Judas was paid for the betrayal of Christ.