Wednesday of Holy Week
The Bible is a story of constant human failure. As such we are constantly prompted to see ourselves in the antagonists. We can relate to those who succumb to the pressure of the mob, or like the people referred to in the first reading, become angry in the face of truth.
This approach fails us however when we are confronted with Judas’ betrayal. Unlike Peter’s failure which can be understood in the context of human weakness, Judas’s actions seem to defy all logic. How could someone who knew Jesus intimately, who witnessed his miracles firsthand, betray him for something as insignificant as money?
Such a decision could only be made in the complete absence of a moral framework. We cannot relate to Judas because he recognizes no reality but the material, and no authority but his own. Jesus’ final remarks to his disciples remind us that Judas’ betrayal, although successful, is not the story of man’s victory over Christ, but Satan’s victory over the individual.
In a way, Judas was ahead of his time given how thoroughly atheism has saturated our current culture. In a time when materialism is the accepted moral lens, and religion has been relegated to the realm of the uneducated, we have a greater responsibility to proclaim the existence of spiritual truths outside of just the religious setting. Christ will conquer death every time, but the story reminds us that some of us will choose death.
Prayer
We pray for all those battling against materialism and nihilism. Give us the strength to defend the spiritual in every domain of life. Amen.
Finn McGillivray '24
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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