40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Holy Wednesday, "Spy Wednesday", 27 March 2024
Isaiah 50:4-9 + + + Matthew 26:14-25
Today is "spy Wednesday"
for it was on this night when
Judas Iscariot struck a deal
with your enemies, Lord Jesus
to betray you;
tonight is said to be
the night of traitors,
of betrayers.
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
Oh how we hate, O Lord Jesus
to be called a traitor,
a betrayer,
a Judas Iscariot!
And yet,
too often,
it is so true of us
whenever we sin,
not only when we turn away
from you but most of all,
when we "hand you over" -
the literal meaning of betrayal -
when we pass you over
for somebody better,
for something useful
and convenient.
Forgive us, Lord Jesus,
for having the same
Judas Iscariot within us,
in collaborating with the
Judas Iscariot among us
when we repeatedly
hand you over like a thing
or a tool for our own selfish ends
as we say in Filipino,
"pinagpapasa-pasahan"
repeatedly passed on
like a thing in exchange
of what or whom
we find better,
convenient and useful;
most sad part in betrayal
dear Jesus,
is how we disregard
the trust we have
with each other
and from each other.
Help me imitate you,
Lord Jesus Christ
like the Suffering Servant
according to Isaiah in the
first reading by being the person
who breaks the cycle of violence
and betrayal;
like the psalmist today,
let "zeal for your house consume me"
Lord, that is,
be filled with your Holy Spirit
so that I may act
and respond to others
from my heart where you dwell
not from my pains and hurts,
nor from the many
betrayals inflicted on me
by others.
Amen.
lordmychef.com 