＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Isaiah 50:4-9a

 The Lord Yahweh has taught me

So I speak as his disciple and I know how to sustain the weary. Morning after morning he wakes me up to hear, to listen like a disciple.  The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear. I have not rebelled, nor have I withdrawn. 

 I offered my back to those who strike me, my cheeks to those who pulled my beard; neither did I shield my face from blows, spittle and disgrace.  I have not despaired, for the Lord Yahweh comes to my help. So, like a flint I set my face, knowing that I will not be disgraced.  He who avenges me is near. Who then will accuse me?

Let us confront each other. Who is now my accuser? Let him approach.   If the Lord Yahweh is my help. who will condemn me? All of them will wear out like cloth; the moth will devour them.

 

Ps 69:8-10, 21-22, 31, 33-34

Lord , in your love, answer me.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 26:14-25

 Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went off to the chief priests and said, “How much will you give me if I hand him over to you?” They promised to give him thirty pieces of silver, and from then on he kept looking for the best way to hand him over to them.

 On the first day of the Festival of the Un­leavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?” Jesus answered, “Go into the city, to the house of a certain man, and tell him: ‘The Master says: My hour is near, and I will celebrate the Pass­over with my disciples in your house.”

 The disciples did as Jesus had ordered and prepared the Passover meal.  When it was evening, Jesus sat at table with the Twelve. While they were eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you: one of you will betray me.” They were deeply distressed and asked him in turn, “You do not mean me, do you, Lord?”

He answered, “He who will betray me is one of those who dips his bread in the dish with me. The Son of Man is going as the Scriptures say he will. But alas for that one who betrays the Son of Man; better for him not to have been born.” Judas, who was betraying him, also asked, “You do not mean me, Master, do you?” Jesus replied, “You have said it.”

 

Gospel Reflection：

Betrayal always comes from those who are close to us. For without any relationship, the action does not pain us as much. The reason why we are devastated when betrayal sets in is because we believe that they have our best interest in mind because that is what we have for them.

So why do we betray people close to us? the reasons are varied and diverse. It might be envy and jealousy, pettiness or the desire to pull people in our miserable state. We cannot stand their good fortune in front of our own misery.

Or sometimes it is just plain over familiarity. We know each other so well that we take liberty in playing with each other’s feelings. Perhaps also their current state irritates us. judas has gradually fallen out with his teacher.

He did not do anyting to arrest this feeling. That is why when the time comes for it to overflow, he acted against his Master whom he once loved. It was deliberate and decisive. When love sours and left unchecked, it will do violence and harm to those whom we once loved.