Holy Wednesday and the Ultimate Betrayal

Judas Iscariot – a man whose name is forever remembered for betraying Jesus to the officials.   One of the original disciples of Jesus is an eternal criminal not because he set Jesus up for his arrest but because he took a fee for doing so.  His name is in the dictionary as an advjectival noun – “You Judas!” can be applied to someone who stabs you in the back, sells you out, sets you up, turns on you, cashes you in, someone who you thought was a friend who ends up using you for a little bit of an advantage.

I tend to think that this would have hurt Jesus most of all – a friend took money despite the fact that something dreadful would happen to Jesus.  Peter denies his existence, his disciples flee and hide, the Jewish authorities use the scriptures to condemn him.  It must have been an incredibly lonely experience.  An incredibly sad experience.

So, for this Holy Wednesday, let us reflect on the human cost of betrayal.   We betray our better nature when we sell out our ideals, when we fail to acknowledge who we are in relationship to others, when we just let that material world overtake us.   Let us claim Jesus as our friend even when that can make us unpopular.

HOLY WEDNESDAY

A reading from ‘The Book of the Blessed Angela of Foligno.

On Wednesday of Holy Week, I was meditating on the death of the Son of God incarnate, and trying to empty my soul of everything else so I could be more recollected in his passion and death. I had only one care, only one desire, and that was to find the best way to empty my soul from everything else in order to have a more vivid memory of the passion and death of the Son of God. Suddenly, while I was engrossed in this effort and desire, a divine word sounded in my soul: ‘My love for you has not been a hoax.’ These words struck me a mortal blow. For immediately the eyes of my soul were opened and I saw that what he had said was true. I saw his acts of love, everything that the Son of God had done, all that he had endured in life and in death – this suffering God-man – because of his inexpressible and visceral love. Seeing in him all the deeds of true love, I understood the perfect truth of what he had said, that his love for me had not been a hoax, but that he had loved me with a most perfect and visceral love. I saw, on the other hand, the exact opposite in myself, because my love for him had never been anything but playing games, never true. Being made aware of this was a mortal blow and caused such intolerable pain that I thought I would die. I perceived all the signs and marks of the truest love in him; how he had given himself wholly and totally to me, in order to serve me; how he had come so close to me: he had become human in order to truly feel and carry my sufferings in himself. When, on the other hand, I perceived the exact opposite in me, I had such suffering and pain that I thought I would die. I felt my ribs dislocate in my chest under the weight of my pain, and it seemed as though my heart would burst.

Tomorrow, the Last Supper and the Eucharist.

Holy Monday and A Holy Anointing at Bethany.

There are many themes in today’s Gospel.   Jesus receives beautiful hospitality at that house in Bethany, a pleace where he could truly be himself.  Mary anoints Jesus with pure nard, as she probably would again after his burial, and is reprimanded by Judas Iscariot.   He describes her attentions as “a waste” and accuses her of neglecting the poor.   His own motivations are obvious to everyone but he is self-deluded enough to carry on his protests.   And Jesus, being treated as the guest of honour, makes the pronouncement that the poor are always with us but no so with him.

Holy Monday then gives us an opportunity to offer hospitality to others but most of all to Jesus.   How do we intend to make time for Jesus this week?   As a comedian said on the radio this morning, “We are devout Catholics and always attended Mass on Sundays … unless the Giants make the play-offs!”   Can we make a home for Christ within us, cherishing his presence whilst still within our reach.

HOLY MONDAY

A reading from ‘The Second Letter of Saint Clare to Blessed Agnes of Prague’

As a poor virgin,
embrace the poor Christ.
Look upon him who became contemptible for you,
and follow him, making yourself contemptible in this world for him. Your Spouse, though more beautiful than all born in this world,
became, for your salvation, the lowest of men, was despised, struck, scourged untold times throughout his entire body, and then died amid the suffering of the Cross.
O most noble Queen, gaze upon him,
consider him,
contemplate him,
as you desire to imitate him.
If you suffer with him, you will reign with him. If you weep with him, you shall rejoice with him. If you die with him on the cross of tribulation,
you shall possess heavenly mansions in the splendour of the saints and, in the Book of Life,
your name shall be called glorious among all people.
Because of this you shall share always and forever the glory of the kingdom of heaven in place of earthly and passing things, and everlasting treasures instead of those that perish, and you shall live forever.

Tomorrow, join us for a reflection on Holy Tuesday and Where Are You Going?