April 12, 2017
Wednesday, Holy Week
1st Reading: Is 50:4–9a
Gospel: Mt 26:14–25
Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went off to the chief priests and said, “How much will you give me if I hand him over to you?” They promised to give him thirty pieces of silver, and from then on he kept looking for the best way to hand him over to them.On the first day of the Festival of the Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?” Jesus answered, “Go into the city, to the house of a certain man, and tell him: ‘The Master says: My hour is near, and I will celebrate the Passover with my disciples in your house.”The disciples did as Jesus had ordered and prepared the Passover meal.When it was evening, Jesus sat at table with the Twelve. While they were eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you: one of you will betray me.” They were deeply distressed and asked him in turn, “You do not mean me, do you, Lord?”He answered, “He who will betray me is one of those who dips his bread in the dish with me. The Son of Man is going as the Scriptures say he will. But alas for that one who betrays the Son of Man; better for him not to have been born.” Judas, who was betraying him, also asked, “You do not mean me, Master, do you?” Jesus replied, “You have said it.”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the
Assimilated Life
Experience)
A traitor in his core group does not speak of Jesus’ poor capacity to discern personalities. Judas’ story was really about God’s respect for human freedom, and not about Jesus’ poor screening of staff.
The Catholic Church also respects human freedom. That is why she restrains herself from exercising police power over her members. She has none, in the first place. The only pseudo-police power she could exercise is the power to excommunicate, but for a long time she has refused to use this on anyone. We, Catholics are however warned that freedom comes with responsibility. Like Judas who had to bear the consequences of his misuse of freedom we too will suffer the consequences of our wrong choices and poorly meditated decisions.
We do not support the theory that Judas was only playing a role which was necessary in order to fulfill God’s plan. This is a dangerous theory for two reasons. First it removes the concept of culpability since nobody can talk of culpability in a stage-managed existence. Second, it paints God as great violator of human freedom.
Because God respects our freedom too, Judas’ story can be our story. But we need not end the way Judas did, for we can always repent and avail of God’s great mercy- something Judas never did! – Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., D.M.
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