Word to the Wise
Wednesday, April 8, 2020 - Holy Week - Wed
[Isa 50:4-9a and Matt 26:14-25]The Lord God has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might now how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them. Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back. I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting. [Isaiah]
Isaiah's "Songs of the Suffering Servant" are building toward the truly eery description in the one on Good Friday! As I have mentioned before, these songs were (and are) a source of understanding for Christian believers who looked for some explanation for Jesus' suffering. The three synoptic gospels (Mark, Matthew and Luke) speak to the death of an innocent man who did not deserve what was done to him. The Gospel According to John shows a person in charge of his mission. Isaiah will tell us on Good Friday that it was our sins and suffering that the Suffering Servant takes on and "by his wounds we are healed."
The gospel scripture today shows a tawdry bit of betrayal by one of the twelve apostles! For mere money, Judas betrays. He has participated in the ministry of the apostles and had been with Jesus from the beginning. Did he lose hope? Centuries of reflection have failed to really get into his mind only to be sent back to one's own betrayals for an answer. We have read the gospels and Isaiah. What do we think of Jesus? In pointing our fingers of judgment at Judas, we may be pointing at ourselves. Judas' motives (other than money) are unknown to us. Peter's motives were clearly fear of being lumped together with Jesus! What are ours? AMEN