Daily Reflection for Wednesday, April 08, 2020
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners!
We encourage you to reflect on Wednesday’s readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040820.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Isaiah 50: 4-9A
Responsorial: Psalm 69: 8-10, 21-22, 31 and 33-34
Gospel: Matthew 26: 14-25
Our reflection on Wednesday’s readings:
“Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Matthew 26: 25
My first thought when reading today’s gospel is: What was Judas thinking? How could he do such a thing?
Scholars can argue about the motivation of Judas. Was it greed, jealousy, political and revolutionary frustration, anger, impulsiveness? We don’t know, but it appears that he wasn’t thinking beyond himself and his opportunity to make a little profit for his knowledge of the whereabouts of Jesus. Did Judas think about the consequences? Did he think how serious his action and his betrayal would be? Did he think about how Jesus might feel being betrayed by one of his beloved disciples?
How many times do we speak or act without thinking? Without awareness of the consequences? Without prayerful consideration?
In the first reading, Isaiah says, the Lord has given me a well-trained tongue to speak and an open ear to hear.” How do we receive those gifts if we aren’t aware of them? If we don’t think first and connect with the Lord through prayer? If we don’t consciously follow the teachings of Jesus and the example he showed us?
Isaiah also tells us how to respond when we are betrayed. We are to stand confidently with the Lord through insult, shame, blasphemy and a broken heart. That is exactly what Jesus did.
The Psalm is our prayer to God for strength and our awareness of His great love for us.
Today’s readings prepare us for the heart wrenching betrayal of Jesus and His response. It also prepares us to learn from Jesus’ response to betrayal, injustice, persecution, humiliation and cruelty. There is no greater teacher than Jesus who showed us the way through life and to life until His last breath and death.
God bless you+
Ruth Mytty