Painful Dynamic

 

 Mt 26:14-25

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

¹⁴ Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests ¹⁵ and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. ¹⁶ From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

The Last Supper

¹⁷ On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

¹⁸ He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” ¹⁹ So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

²⁰ When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. ²¹ And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

²² They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”

²³ Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. ²⁴ The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”    

 We can feel the tension and the sadness aroused by the prediction Jesus made as the Eleven ask in innocence, "Is it I?" Even Judas joins the chorus, knowing full well that he is the guilty one. What was going on in his mind and soul? Disappointment? Or maybe a prod to get Jesus to establish and earthly kingdom? He later on regrets his deal and tries to stop the process, but it was too late.He had given the High Priests what they wanted, and his guilty conscience was not their concern. The weight of his guilt led to his self-inflicted death.  Life often presents us with choices that cause anguish and demand prayer and reflection to find the right path.  What am I facing on this "Spy Wednesday" that needs this level of attention? How will I respond?

Bro. Rene

Dear God, be my guide and direct my choices and decisions that they may keep me on the path that leads to you. Amen.