Wednesday of Holy Week

April 8, 2020

Readings:

First Reading: Isaiah 50: 4-9a

Psalm 69 “Lord, in your great love answer me.”

Gospel reading according to Matthew 26: 14-25

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Homily: Betrayal of Judas

Judas Iscariot, before everything happened in the Upper Room and before the Passover meal, went and set meeting already to the chief priests and eiders in the temple to sell and betray Jesus, and settle on how they can arrest him.  “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 on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over” (Matthew 26: 14-16).  He asked them the price he will receive if he handed him over to them.  Immediately, without a second and or a minute they gave him thirty pieces of silver, without other question because they are much willing to arrest and put to death Jesus; that is the price of Jesus′ blood. 

On the occasion of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, Jesus was approached by some of his disciples where to celebrate the feast so that they can prepare and set the table.  He commanded those disciples to go to the city and find a man with whom he talked already about the use of his house for the celebration of the Passover feast exclusively for him and his disciples.  “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?′  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: 17-19).  The disciples went in the city, found the friend of Jesus who own a house to be used for the said celebration.  It was in the upper room (or cenacle).

While they were gathering at the table to feast the unleavened bread, Jesus, with heavy heart revealed to his disciples the betrayal he will endure in the hands of one of them.  “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.  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: 20-24).  The disciples also felt the heaviness of Jesus′ heart and his worries and sadness, for one of his trusted friends will betray him.  So, one by one asked Jesus if he was the one.  He only showed a sign who he was, the one who will dip his hand into the dish he has will be the one.  Jesus also said a premonition about the coming condition of the one who will betray him, “it would be better for that man if he had never been born.”

Judas pretending he did not know who it was and as if he did not know what he did before, had a courage to ask Jesus if he was the one.  “Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, ‵Surety it is not I, Rabbi?′  He answered, ‵You have said so′.” (Matthew 26: 25).  Jesus knew everything, for it was already revealed to him by God his Father what will happen and how it will happen, and so Judas dipped his hand with the dish Jesus had.