Gospel: Matthew 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, 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.”
- if: requirement or stipulation; granting or supposing that; on condition that.
- Why did Judas ask for something in return for handing Jesus over? Do I ever commit a wrong without thinking that I'll be getting some payback? Is Jesus worth more to me than thirty pieces of silver? (Remember, even Judas realized what he had done and tried to return the silver).
- recline: to lean or lie back; rest in a recumbent position; repose.
- How can Jesus calmly recline with his disciples hours before he was to be arrested? Do you think He didn't know what was coming? Or did his peace and composure come from knowing that He was doing God's will and that God would sustain Him? How do I react in the midst of present or onlooking suffering?
- distress: great pain, anxiety or sorrow; trouble; that which causes pain or suffering; a state of danger or desperate need.
- Is it equally distressing for me to hear Christ's words - that I, too, will betray Him? Am I not unrealistic expecting that I reach perfection? Accepting that I do and will sin doesn't mean I don't try, but doesn't it help me ask for and accept God's mercy?
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