Wednesday of Holy Week, Gospel Reading

Matthew 26:14-25

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the cheif 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.

     One 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, "My 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."
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Reflect:

We now hear Matthew’s rendition of the same story we heard yesterday. This time Judas is directly called out by Jesus. This season we too have been called out by Christ through our Lenten practices. Hopefully, by the grace of the Holy Spirit you have taken a deeper perspective of yourself and noticed how blessed you are by God. You may have learned that you can conquer many things simply by trusting in Him. You may have fallen to temptation, you may have given up. Always know that our Lord is always there not to call you out, but to help you reconcile with God. Tomorrow we enter the holiest days of the year. Are you ready? A suggestion: If you have never done this: participate in all the liturgies your parish has to offer these next three days, you’ll be greatly surprised at the reward and your deeper understanding of Easter.  (Reflection is from http://www.lifeteen.com/, Daily Devotional, 3-31-10)