The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, April 7, 2004
Wednesday of Holy Week

Scripture from Wednesday’s Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 50:4-9
Psalm 69:8-10,21-22,31,33-34
Matthew 26:14-25

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture. . . .

“Woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed.”

History attests that the vast majority of humanity hates being told that the path they have chosen to walk upon is sinful, leading them not only to bring misery to others but also to cause themselves great eternal loss for having separated themselves from God. Years ago when I first began teaching high school students, marijuana was fast gaining in popularity among them. They justified this by saying it made them feel good, and since it was their own bodies, no one had a right to tell them what to do with them. These youngsters had no sense of responsibility toward their parents, the community and their own well-being. Theirs was a mindless freedom that never counted its price.

Man is free to disbelieve that Christ is the Son of God, but Judas took it a step beyond this by betraying His location to the religious authorities, knowing that His arrest would place Him in danger of punishment, perhaps death. We who call ourselves Christian, who claim to be believers, may see Judas’ behavior as despicable, not realizing that there are many other ways of betraying Jesus Christ. We betray Him in thought word and deed each time we stray from living in God’s truth and love. During these final days of Lent let us resolve to apply the cross to ourselves, truly dying to sin, that we may receive Christ’s resurrected life. If we “talk the talk” we should “walk the walk.” Anything less betrays Jesus by discrediting both Him and His message.

Merciful Lord,
give us light that we may see ourselves as You see us,
as we truly are in the depths of our hearts,
that we may repent and be forgiven our sins. Amen

- Marie Bocko, ocds

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posted by joachim at 4:21 AM