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April 8, 2020Today’s Gospel rank on the top 10 for me. In the first part of the Gospel, Judas makes the deal with the chief priests. Today has traditionally been known as SPY WEDNESDAY, the day Judas made the deal with the chief priests. This, as a side note, is why our ancient tradition of fasting which lasted until the 20th century was to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays. Not just in lent, but all year. Obviously, Friday is the day Jesus died and we should commemorate it every Friday, and Wednesday, because of the death Jesus felt in Judas’ betrayal.
Now the rest of the story, of why it is a favorite day of mine. Judas, as we have heard in previous days, had been stealing from Jesus and the apostles for probably most of the three years that they were together. Stealing is a betrayal. Jesus knew He was stealing so Jesus knew he could or would also betray him with the chief priests. Yet, Jesus invites Judas to the Last Supper, the Passover for that year, and this is when Jesus commissioned the apostles as the first priests.
Jesus knew what Judas was capable of being and doing. Jesus knew Judas had the gifts and ability to be a great and awesome priest. Jesus also knew Judas was a betrayer and could tend to lean that way instead. Yet he asks him to be a priest. Judas obviously betrayed Jesus in the worst way by turning his back on the gift of priesthood. Focusing on his self on his own personal gain that he could get form the betrayal.
Imagine the hurt Jesus had to deal with. If you were watching yesterday, you heard Tom speak of this being the beginning of Jesus passion, dealing with the emotional wound of Judas.
Everyone of us have gifts, blessings, talents, given to us to serve Jesus, God the Father and His people. Everyone of us also have a free will to use those gifts, talents, blessings for ourselves, selfishly, or for God by using them for others. How are we using our gifts and talents? Are we responding to what God has asked of us? Are we using all we are and have or can do for God and others?
Or are we looking at who we are, and using our blessings, for our own personal gain. We do not know the final judgement for Judas, but we do know that Jesus said it is better for him if had not been born. He said this because of the betrayal. Do we betray Jesus in our daily actions and words?
We are entering into the three holiest days of our Faith and of the year. Use these days, thinking about Judas, to meditate and see if we treat Jesus like Judas did or as an intimate devoted follower. Whatever the answer is, Easter is the time of the Resurrection. Let us rise to be people using all of our blessings for God and His people.
