First Reading - Isaiah 50:4-9
Gospel - Matthew 26:14-25
In the first reading, we hear the Third Servant Song from the Book of Isaiah. Here, the servant is portrayed not just as one who suffers, but as a sage—a faithful disciple of the Lord. He listens attentively to God and is charged with teaching both the righteous and the lost. He reaches out to the “God-fearers” and to those who “walk in darkness,” opening the path of faith and hope for all. This song also highlights the suffering that comes with this mission: opposition, insult, beatings, and humiliation. Yet, the servant does not turn back. He remains firm, trusting that God will vindicate him. This foreshadows the passion of Jesus, the true Servant of the Lord, who endured betrayal and suffering with courage and unwavering trust in His Father.
The Gospel takes us directly into the shadow of betrayal. Judas agrees to hand Jesus over to His enemies for thirty pieces of silver—the price of a slave. The betrayal was not sudden; it was planned, calculated, hidden in secrecy—like a spy. At the same time, Jesus prepares for the Passover, knowing full well what is coming. During the meal, He reveals that one of His own would betray Him. It's a moment of deep sorrow and clarity.
Why did Judas do it? Scholars offer several reasons. First, greed—he was a thief who helped himself to the money bag. Second, disillusionment—perhaps he expected a militant Messiah who would overthrow Roman oppression. When Jesus spoke instead of peace, love, and suffering, Judas grew bitter. A third theory suggests Judas hoped to force Jesus into action—to provoke a revolution. But when Jesus offered no resistance at His arrest, Judas was devastated, and took his own life.
Dear friends, today’s readings challenge us to consider: could we, too, betray Jesus in our own ways? Maybe not with silver coins, but perhaps with compromises—for money, for power, for convenience, or for moments of pleasure. We can betray Him through our indifference to truth, through our silence in the face of injustice, or through our refusal to forgive.
Sometimes, we grow disillusioned with God—when prayers seem unanswered, when suffering continues, when the wicked seem to prosper. In such moments, we may be tempted to question God’s plan, to turn away, to take matters into our own hands.
This Holy Week is a time of self-examination. It is a sacred opportunity to look within, to recognize the little betrayals, the small compromises, the moments when we’ve chosen our will over God's. These may seem small, but over time, they can harden our hearts and dim our love.
Let us not be like Judas, who hid behind a kiss. Let us be like the faithful servant, who listens to God each morning, who bears hardship without turning back, who trusts in God's vindication. Let us follow the example of Jesus, who loved till the end—even those who betrayed Him.
Let’s pray for the grace to remain faithful to Jesus, to recognize the moments of weakness for what they are, and to return always to the One who never stops loving us. May we not just remember the betrayal of Judas today—but strive, in our own lives, never to be the cause of another "day of betrayal."
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