Word to the Wise
Wednesday, April 12, 2017 - Holy Week - Wed
[Isa 50:4-9a and Matt 26:14-25]When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, "Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me." Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, "Surely it is not I, Lord?" ...Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, "Sure it is not I, Rabbi?" He answered, "You have said so." [Matthew]
The story of betrayal is repeated today, but from a different perspective. Yesterday, Jesus was the principal character (as he is in all of the Gospel According to John), but today we follow the footsteps of Judas as he goes to the chief priests and offers to "hand him over to you." They pay him thirty pieces of silver [cf. Zechariah 11:12]. This action forms the backdrop for the rest of the scene which then shifts to the Last Supper. Notice that Judas uses a different word for Jesus. He says, "Rabbi!" and not "Lord." We don't know what really motivated Judas. We have to move onto the rest of the meal.
Tomorrow the focus of the meal will move to the washing of the feet and the establishment of the Eucharist. The Last Supper scene has a lot going on in it. The Gospel According to John does not mention the bread and wine but only the washing of the feet of the disciples. The other three gospels do not mention the washing of the feet! There are all the associations with the Exodus and the manna in the desert that come with a Seder meal. But there is also the service to one another represented in the washing of the feet. "I have given you a model to follow." [John 13:15] In regard to his Body and Blood, he says, "Do this in remembrance of me." So, everything in Holy Week is a culmination of these elements. Jesus gives his life in service to us and leaves us a way of remembering him in the Eucharist (without losing the element of service to one another.)
All of this is a lot to remember! Nevertheless, we can make an effort to be a part of the events which are the saving action of Christ in our regard. Surely that is a worthy effort! AMEN
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