Wednesday of the Holy Week

Isaiah 50: 4-9a        Mathew 26: 14-25

Theme: Greed is destructive

In the gospel reading of today from St. Mathew, we see how Judas went on his own to the chief priest, to request for what they are willing to offer to him, for him to betray Jesus. It is sad that even after Jesus has made it clear that he knew the plans of Judas, he still went ahead to betray Jesus. You will agree with me that the betrayal of a close person to you is always very painful and difficult to understand. This was exactly the situation that is playing out itself in the life of Jesus Christ right now. One of his trusted men, is selling him to those who see him as an enemy. At supper, Jesus announced it to the twelve that one of them is about to betray him and they were sorrowful, because the other eleven understood how painful such a situation will be to their master.

The way the event was unfolding would have made any wise person cancel his evil plan to betray his master. But the mind of Judas was made up and he has already given the devil the opportunity to take control of him. He was not ready to call off his plans, but rather to see it through. The assertion of Jesus at this point, is enough to scare any right-thinking person to stop the plan. Jesus said, “Woe to that man by whom the son of man is betrayed”. Knowing Jesus very well, he would have stopped all the plans knowing that Jesus already knew his plans. The situation in today’s gospel reading also presents us an opportunity to reflect on ourselves as followers of Christ.

Dear friends in Christ, have you in any way betrayed a friend and brother because of your greed and love for money? What happened to Judas Iscariot is a lesson for all of us. All those who go along that route, never end well, just like Judas Iscariot, it is only a matter of time. It is expected that as children of God, we should be mindful of the things we desire and be careful not to desire things that will lead to our destruction at the end. Remember, it takes time to build any friendship, but only one negative action like betrayal to destroy it for life. The question at the end is, is it worth it? May the Lord bless his words in our hearts, in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit, Amen. Peace be with you.