Reading I
Is 50:4-9a
The Lord GOD has given me
a well-trained tongue,
That I might know how to speak to the weary
a word that will rouse them.
Morning after morning
he opens my ear that I may hear;
And I have not rebelled,
have not turned back.
I gave my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who plucked my beard;
My face I did not shield
from buffets and spitting.
The Lord GOD is my help,
therefore I am not disgraced;
I have set my face like flint,
knowing that I shall not be put to shame.
He is near who upholds my right;
if anyone wishes to oppose me,
let us appear together.
Who disputes my right?
Let him confront me.
See, the Lord GOD is my help;
who will prove me wrong?
Gospel
Mt 26:14-25
One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot,
went to the chief priests and said,
“What are you willing to give me
if I hand him over to you?”
They paid him thirty pieces of silver,
and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
the disciples approached Jesus and said,
“Where do you want us to prepare
for you to eat the Passover?”
He said,
“Go into the city to a certain man and tell him,
‘The teacher says, AMy appointed time draws near;
in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”‘“
The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered,
and prepared the Passover.
When it was evening,
he reclined at table with the Twelve.
And while they were eating, he said,
“Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”
Deeply distressed at this,
they began to say to him one after another,
“Surely it is not I, Lord?”
He said in reply,
“He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me
is the one who will betray me.
The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him,
but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed.
It would be better for that man if he had never been born.”
Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply,
“Surely it is not I, Rabbi?”
He answered, “You have said so.”
Meditation: Matthew 26:14-25
Many of us grew up referring to the Wednesday before Easter as “Spy Wednesday,” the day when Judas conspired with the chief priests to have Jesus arrested.
Spy Wednesday focused on the intrigue surrounding Jesus’ last days and the mounting suspense as darkness closed in around him. Nowadays, the church focuses less on the darkness and less on the duplicity, self-seeking, and betrayal of Judas. Rather, we emphasize the light—the personal relationship that we can have with God because of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
So celebrate the light! Try some of these activities to help you and your family focus on the blessing that today brings:
• If you have children at home, hide thirty coins around the house. Read today’s Gospel, and have them “spy out” the coins. If your children are old enough to understand, put the coins in your church’s poor box.
• Spend some time reflecting on your own journey from darkness to light. In each of our lives, the Holy Spirit has worked, and is still working, to bring us closer to Christ. Recall the times he has intervened, changed what was happening in your life, or made you aware of his guidance.
• Examine your conscience. What a great day to clear out any darkness that might lurk! Ask the Holy Spirit to show you especially any deceit, dishonesty, unfaithfulness, or self-seeking. And then, repent. Make the choice that Judas didn’t make but that Peter did. Don’t be afraid of what the Spirit will show you. He is gentle and kind, and wants only to draw you closer to Jesus.
• Spend some time praising God. Focus on Jesus, who turned Spy Wednesday into Holy Wednesday. He died so that we could be set free from the pall of darkness. He died so that we would never have to skulk through life, motivated by selfishness, greed, fear, or the need to control situations. No, we are children of the light!
So rejoice today, because Christ has shined on you!
“Jesus, thank you for dying for me. Thank you for bringing light into my life. Help me today to see and choose to do the things that please you most.”
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