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."
REFLECTION:
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.
St Leo the Great wrote that the faithful should look into themselves and carefully study the impulses of their hearts and minds. If they find some of the fruits of love stored in their hearts then God's presence is within them. If God is love, then there is no limit and so to make ourselves more and more able to receive so great a gift, one should do more works of mercy and kindness.
My heart goes out to Jesus today as Judas' plot begins. As mentioned before, Scripture confirmed, miracles were signs and prophecy declared who Jesus was.
But I ask myself, "Am I capable of being a Judas?" I want to be present at the Lord's Passover not as His enemy but as a poor sinner seeking to win all His graces.
God is Charity. It is in His footsteps I must follow. And through His suffering Jesus shows us the immense power of love. Rather than placing myself above my enemy, my love should be given to those who have sinned against me, to the poor, to the needy.
May Lent continue beyond these 40 days with praying, almsgiving, and fasting from what will keep us away from God. Take advantage that the Lenten habits are still in us. Let this be a golden opportunity to continue with our new life.
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