(Reflection for Wednesday of the Holy Week)
Excerpts from the Gospel:
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.”
Reflections:
If we could notice, the character of Judas Iscariot is one of the name that is often included in the gospels this Holy Week especially from Monday to Holy Friday. On Monday of the Holy Week, Judas is portrayed as a greed man as he commented on Mary Magdalene’s act, “This perfume could have been sold for three hundred silver coins and turned over to the poor.” Judas, indeed, had no concern for the poor; he was a thief and as he held the common purse, he used to help himself to the funds.” (John 12:4-6). On Tuesday, Jesus declared about the betrayal of one of his disciples. “Jesus was distressed in spirit and said plainly, “Truly, one of you will betray me.”… And the disciple who was reclining near to Jesus asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “I shall dip a piece of bread in the dish, and he to whom I give it, is the one.” So Jesus dipped the bread and gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And as Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus then said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” (John 13:21, 25-27) This Wednesday, the gospel is telling us about the act of exchanging the values of Jesus for a little amount of money. “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.” (Matthew 26:14-16) On Holy Thursday, the gospel speaks about the devil’s possession of Judas. “They were at supper, and the devil had already put into the mind of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray him.” (John 13:2) On Holy Friday, the gospel proclaims the execution of the betrayal of Judas. “Now Judas, who betrayed him knew the place since Jesus had often met there with his disciples. He led soldiers of the Roman battalion and guards from the chief priests and Pharisees, who went there with lanterns, torches and weapons… Judas, who betrayed him, stood there with them.” (John 18:2-3, 5b)
Judas Iscariot began to be known in history as he became part of the Twelve Disciples that Jesus had chosen. To be one of the apostles was a great privilege and gift from God. The Twelve became not just near but closest to Jesus. Yet, despite of the closeness that was built, the space for betrayal still exists. Thus the story of Judas is “a warning for all of us today. If the closest to Jesus failed him so miserably, we better examine ourselves whether we are not as well on the path of exchanging the values of Jesus’ message about the reign of God for greed, injustice and violence of our contemporary world.”[1] On this present age, the temptation on possession is so powerful. Money and power are so tempting today that people could do anything just to have them. In some events in life, there are people who sacrifice even dignity and righteousness. We sometimes forget or neglect the prompting of Holy Spirit. We exchange the value of holiness to the selfishness.
Even I could not deny that weakness. I, too, have the tendency to hold all things on me though some of them I do not even need. I am just selfish and boastful. I sometimes choose what I want than what I should take. I am aware of the teachings of Jesus but still, I do the other way around because that makes me feel good. Sometimes my action is based on what is comforting in me rather than what is good for me. Thus, like Judas, I sometimes exchange the value of goodness to the evil intent. I, too, like Judas am sending once again Jesus to the way of the cross.
Judas Iscariot exchange the value of Jesus to just a little amount of money. He was not able to see the real value of Jesus Christ not just for himself but for the world. Because of greed, Judas has only seen the temporality of his possession. He exchanges temporal things from the eternal life that is waiting for him. We, on the same hand, sometimes look on what we need today but disregard the value that waiting for the future. We neglect to see what is really essential to our life.
One of the most favorite phrases I heard is this: “The people today search for infinite happiness through finite things.” Naturally, our hearts are looking for happiness. Unfortunately, sometimes we become blinded in acquiring them. We look for happiness on those things that could only give us enjoyment in the short period of time. We look for happiness in those things that in themselves fade. Why not to search infinite happiness in someone who can give us such? We could only find it to the Being whom himself is eternal. Nothing in this world can fade his infinite glory thus the happiness that he could give can last forever.
Judas Iscariot failed to see the everlasting glory with Jesus.
If we could examine ourselves today, do you think that we are also becoming like Judas Iscariot in some moment of our life? If we could analyze the world today, how many Judas Iscariot are still living today? How many events of betrayal are still happening everyday? How many scourging at the pillar, crowning with thorns, carrying of the cross, crucifixion, and a death on the cross are still continuously being experienced by our Lord Jesus Christ?
But, despite our failures, God never turned his back from us. He is waiting for us to look him again as our happiness in life. God has infinite forgiveness for those who seek it. And, after reconciliation, He will give us again the dignity that is meant for us. Look what is happened to Peter. Though, Jesus was denied by him, Jesus entrusted to him His church here on Earth. That was happened because Peter asked for forgiveness. That is the difference of Peter and Judas. Peter asked for forgiveness but Judas allowed himself to be broken by distress thus was not able to see the hope in Christ.
Today, we are called to reflect in our life? Are we becoming Judas Iscariot? It is never too late to go back to the Father. He is waiting. Let us don’t allow ourselves to be hanged on the useless tree. Instead let us open our hearts to instrument of God glory in this life that will lead us to the everlasting glory together with Him.
[1] Reflection for April 20, 2011 (Wednesday), Bible Diary 2011 (Philippines: Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc., 2010)
