It was at Passover time that Jesus came to Jerusalem

knowing he would be betrayed and put to death

as the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world"

Jesus knew what was to come, and yet he still chose to share

the Passover meal with his disciples, including Judas.

  

 

＊＊＊ 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I have not rebelled, nor have I withdrawn.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 great love, answer me.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊     

Matthew 26:14-25

Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went 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 Jesus over to them.

 

On the first day of the Festival of 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 they asked him, one after the other, "You do not mean me, do you, Lord?"

 

He answered, "The one who dips his bread with me will betray 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, the one who would betray him, also asked, "You do not mean me, Master, do you?" Jesus replied, "You have said it.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"Envy and selfishness." 

Today is Holy Wednesday and we continue our faith journey while trying to break the shackles of selfishness. Today's Gospel narrates how Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests, asking how much he would get from them if he would hand Jesus over to them. Why would Judas be wanting for more?

 

Evil is present when one is not content with what is given. Envy is the partner of selfishness. Together, they generate betrayal. How many relationships, to our knowledge, have already been broken because of envy and selfishness? Christians are called to build relationships and not to destroy relationships.

 

Christians are challenged to create a climate of trust and not an atmosphere of betrayal. In these holy days, we are also called to be instruments of healing whenever there is a broken relationship due to betrayal. Betrayal is painful but healing is always a possibility. As the Paschal Triduum is fast approaching, may we be given the grace to truly look inside our deepest core while sincerely asking God to free us from selfishness and envy and heal us of any wound brought about by an experience of betrayal.