Frederick, Maryland, United States - Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Wednesday, 16 April 2014 - Catholic Meditations

Frederick, Maryland, United States - Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Wednesday, 16 April 2014 - Catholic Meditations

Meditations: Matthew 26: 14 Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me, that I should deliver him to you?” They weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

17 Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?”

18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain person, and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.”’”

19 The disciples did as Jesus commanded them, and they prepared the Passover. 20 Now when evening had come, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. 21 As they were eating, he said, “Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me.”

22 They were exceedingly sorrowful, and each began to ask him, “It isn’t me, is it, Lord?”

23 He answered, “He who dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes, even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.”

25 Judas, who betrayed him, answered, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?”

He said to him, “You said it.”

Wednesday of Holy Week

One of you will betray me. (Matthew 26:21)

Lord Jesus, you really know how to upset people. “One of you will betray me”—what a bombshell! Sure, your disciples are aware that someone is going to hand you over (Matthew 17:22; 20:18; 26:2). But to learn that it’s one of them! Who could it be?

I can picture the Eleven gripped with horror at the terrifying possibilities. I see their fearful faces turning to you, seeking assurance that they would never do such a thing: “Surely it is not I, Lord?” (Matthew 26:22). Even Peter is too stunned to deny the possibility of his own weakness. Defenses fall, and eleven hearts face the truth: Am I capable of betraying my Lord? Yes, I am.

You foresee, Jesus, what will happen. The moment of clarity will pass. Soon your little band will be justifying themselves and professing their undying loyalty (Matthew 26:35). But then they’ll run away. How well you know these men—and how little they know themselves! Still, how deeply you love them and want them to be one with you. Right to the end, you work to call out the good you see in them.

You address that twelfth disciple, your betrayer, and offer him one last chance to change course. Then, before delivering yourself to your enemies, you hand yourself over to your wavering friends: “Take and eat… . Drink” (Matthew 26:26, 27). Who but you could have imagined this act of love!

Jesus, it is good for me to be here, reflecting on this scene. Tomorrow, Holy Thursday, will remind me in a special way that I’m in it. At every Mass, it’s like I’m sitting elbow-to-elbow with the apostles at the Last Supper. Like them, I’m flawed and weak. But as I eat your Body and drink your Blood, your life flows through me and makes me strong. And so, looking not at my sins and liabilities but at your power at work in me, I boldly dare to offer a prayer that many Eastern Catholics recite before receiving Communion: “I will not betray you with a kiss, as did Judas, but like the repentant thief, I openly profess you: Remember me, O Lord, in your kingdom.”

“Jesus, thank you for giving your life out of love for me. You make my heart leap with joy!” Amen.

Isaiah 50: 4 The Lord Yahweh has given me the tongue of those who are taught,

    that I may know how to sustain with words him who is weary.

He wakens morning by morning,

    he wakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.

5 The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear,

    and I was not rebellious.

    I have not turned back.

6 I gave my back to those who beat me,

    and my cheeks to those who plucked off the hair.

    I didn’t hide my face from shame and spitting.

7 For the Lord Yahweh will help me.

    Therefore I have not been confounded.

Therefore I have set my face like a flint,

    and I know that I shall not be disappointed.

8 He who justifies me is near.

    Who will bring charges against me?

Let us stand up together.

    Who is my adversary?

    Let him come near to me.

9 Behold, the Lord Yahweh will help me!

    Who is he who will condemn me?

Behold, they will all grow old like a garment.

    The moths will eat them up.

Psalm 69:8 I have become a stranger to my brothers,

    an alien to my mother’s children.

9 For the zeal of your house consumes me.

    The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.

10 When I wept and I fasted,

    that was to my reproach.

21 They also gave me gall for my food.

    In my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.

22 Let their table before them become a snare.

    May it become a retribution and a trap.

31 It will please Yahweh better than an ox,

    or a bull that has horns and hoofs.

33 For Yahweh hears the needy,

    and doesn’t despise his captive people.

34 Let heaven and earth praise him;

    the seas, and everything that moves therein!

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