Wednesday of Holy Week
Today’s readings take us to extreme examples that require a little time to process. There is the ideal of right relationship with God in Isaiah’s passage and then the brutal betrayal of Jesus by Judas in the Gospel. The Psalm pleas in the midst of it all: Lord, in your great love, answer me. What resonates with you?
Where Isaiah paints a picture of who I want to say I am, Matthew’s Gospel offers my greatest fear, and I reckon I fall somewhere in the middle. I know there have been times when my words have struck a chord with others, when I feel courageous enough to speak up for what is right, knowing the Spirit is with me and nothing can deter me. But there are more times when I don’t take the time to hear for and listen to God, times when I don’t speak up, when I get carried away with my own fears and try to make it on my own. I forget to surrender to God’s love. And while I’m surely not Judas—I would never give Jesus up for a few coins, and can you imagine having dinner with Him afterwards?—I wonder actually if I’m not that far off. I’ve seen how I’ve ignored other’s needs, betrayed friendships, made wrong decisions in an effort to put myself “on top.”
Today’s Psalm settles in me. When I am weak, when I am torn, when I feel shame, I need to remember to reach for God. When others dismiss me and my heart breaks, I need to reach for God. And when I remember to sing praise to God, it’s not because God needs it, but because my soul needs to be revived with the Truth—God is always there. In our daily miracles and gifts, but most especially in our suffering, in our loneliness, in our questions, God is there. We simply need to remember. Lord, in Your great love, answer me.
Prayer
Gracious and merciful God, help me to remember and surrender to Your great love.
Heidi St. Peter, ’96, Assist. Dean for Advising and Student Development
Psalm 69:8-10, 21-22, 31, 33-34
Gospel: Matthew 26:14-25
Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website
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