Word to the Wise
Wednesday, April 8, 2009 - Wednesday of Holy Week
[Isaiah 50:4-9A and Matthew 26:14-25]One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" They paid them thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to and him over.
There's so much that could be said about Judas' behavior. His name has become the symbol for a traitor! The commentaries provide much material about how his deal was struck with the religious authorities and there is the symbolism of the 30 pieces of silver, which we learn about when he tries to return the money. I would simply like to point out the first four words of today's gospel scripture to think about: One of the Twelve...... Those four words should send us back to the rest of the gospel. Judas was chosen to be one of Jesus' closest companions and coworkers. Aside from the question as to why Jesus would have chosen him to begin with (which would get us into the thickets of Christological speculation), there is the simple and horrendous realization that comes after reading all the gospel: why would this man give up all that had happened and the promise for the future? The answer to this question remains a mystery. The amount of money is not large, not anywhere near the amount that the ointment cost which Mary used to wash the feet of Jesus! Is there fear of the authorities (demonstrated when all the remaining disciples run away when Jesus is arrested - maybe because they knew Judas could identify them)? Is there cynicism over whether there could be a future for Jesus' efforts? If so, why not just go home? We'll never really know (at least in this life) why Judas acted the way he did. We can only know why we betray the Lord. For this reason, the judgment of Judas remains in the hands and justice of God. Our own continuing complicity should lead us to the rest of the gospel and then back to the Passion account to ask if we are still tempted by the "30 pieces of silver" offered to us on a daily basis! AMEN