The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today present the truth of betrayal as an experience in which we invoke the wisdom and consolation of the Spirit to resurrect our faith in our relationships.
The reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah declares the Suffering Servant’s humiliation and vindication.
* [50:4–11] The third of the four “servant of the Lord” oracles (cf. note on 42:1–4); in vv. 4–9 the servant speaks; in vv. 10–11 God addresses the people directly.
* [50:5] The servant, like a well-trained disciple, does not refuse the divine vocation.
* [50:6] He willingly submits to insults and beatings. Tore out my beard: a grave and painful insult. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 50 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 69 is a prayer for Deliverance from Persecution.
* [Psalm 69] A lament complaining of suffering in language both metaphorical (Ps 69:2–3, 15–16, the waters of chaos) and literal (Ps 69:4, 5, 9, 11–13, exhaustion, alienation from family and community, false accusation). In the second part the psalmist prays with special emphasis that the enemies be punished for all to see (Ps 69:23–29). Despite the pain, the psalmist does not lose hope that all be set right, and promises public praise (Ps 69:30–36). The Psalm, which depicts the suffering of the innocent just person vividly, is cited often by the New Testament especially in the passion accounts, e.g., Ps 69:5 in Jn 15:25; Ps 69:22 in Mk 15:23, 36 and parallels and in Jn 19:29. The Psalm prays not so much for personal vengeance as for public vindication of God’s justice. There was, at this time, no belief in an afterlife where such vindication could take place. Redress had to take place now, in the sight of all. (Psalms, PSALM 69 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Judas agrees to betray Jesus and He shares the Passover with the Disciples.
* [26:14] Iscariot: see note on Lk 6:16.
* [26:15] The motive of avarice is introduced by Judas’s question about the price for betrayal, which is absent in the Marcan source (Mk 14:10–11). Hand him over: the same Greek verb is used to express the saving purpose of God by which Jesus is handed over to death (cf. Mt 17:22; 20:18; 26:2) and the human malice that hands him over. Thirty pieces of silver: the price of the betrayal is found only in Matthew. It is derived from Zec 11:12 where it is the wages paid to the rejected shepherd, a cheap price (Zec 11:13). That amount is also the compensation paid to one whose slave has been gored by an ox (Ex 21:32).
* [26:17] The first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread: see note on Mk 14:1. Matthew omits Mark’s “when they sacrificed the Passover lamb.”
* [26:18] By omitting much of Mk 14:13–15, adding My appointed time draws near, and turning the question into a statement, in your house I shall celebrate the Passover, Matthew has given this passage a solemnity and majesty greater than that of his source.
* [26:21] Given Matthew’s interest in the fulfillment of the Old Testament, it is curious that he omits the Marcan designation of Jesus’ betrayer as “one who is eating with me” (Mk 14:18), since that is probably an allusion to Ps 41:10. However, the shocking fact that the betrayer is one who shares table fellowship with Jesus is emphasized in Mt 26:23.
* [26:24] It would be better…born: the enormity of the deed is such that it would be better not to exist than to do it.
* [26:25] Peculiar to Matthew. You have said so: cf. Mt 26:64; 27:11. This is a half-affirmative. Emphasis is laid on the pronoun and the answer implies that the statement would not have been made if the question had not been asked. (Matthew, CHAPTER 26 | USCCB, n.d.)
Larry Hopp comments that while the hardships we face in our lives may not include beatings and torture, we can certainly use Isaiah’s advice when we face our giants. We can confidently rely on God’s never-failing presence and His enduring love when life treats us unjustly.
Dear Heavenly Father , it just seems impossible to find the words to adequately express our gratitude for the love you expressed through the horror of the cross. As we face the pain in our lives, help us to never lose sight of your loving presence. Bless us with eyes to see and ears to hear as we seek your will in steadfastly proclaiming your unfailing love. In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen (Hopp, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “God's help for a complete conversion,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"When we transform our old life and give our spirit a new image, we find it hard and tiring to turn back from the darkness of earthly passions to the serene calm of the divine light. We thus ask God to help us that a complete conversion may be brought about in us." (excerpt from Confessions 10,4) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 26:14-25 urges us to ask God to be with us in our reflection. Close our eyes and try to imagine the sights, sounds, or even smells of the scene as we join the apostles at the Last Supper. Read through the passage slowly, and stop whenever something stands. Stay with it for a while; there’s no need to rush. Ask God to help to come to know Jesus better as we spend time with his word.
Contemplating the Scriptures in this way can help you see the events of Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection with fresh eyes. It can draw you into a deeper love for him and a greater gratitude for all he endured for you.
“Lord, let your word lead me closer to you!” (Meditation on Matthew 26:14-25, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes the suffering of rejection in the third of the “Songs of the Suffering Servant” and the trust of the servant in Providence. The Gospel of Matthew describes the betrayal of Jesus on the day in Holy Week known by Orthodox as “spy Wednesday”. Friar Jude comments on the question of Judas' possible humility to accept forgiveness from God.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Theologian James Cone (1938–2018) who draws a parallel between Jesus’ crucifixion and the lynching of Black Americans. Jennifer Garcia Bashaw charts a path forward for Christians to stop racial scapegoating.
The final step we must take to abolish the scapegoating of Black Americans is to raise up the voices of the victims, to hear their experiences and learn from their resiliency. We need to listen to Black historians and Bible scholars, Black theologians and ethicists, Black social advocates and pastors, Black artists and poets. They will be the lights that lead the church from ignorance to understanding; they will show us how to live into the inclusive and liberating kingdom of God rather than the empire of domination and power…. We have a long way to go before our community resembles the beloved community of Christ. Those of us who have participated in, allowed, or ignored racism must walk the painful road of confession and atonement before we can mend the rift in the body of Christ that we caused…. (Rohr, n.d.)
We contemplate how to integrate the reaction of Jesus to Judas' betrayal into the disappointments in our relationships that bring us pain and sorrow.
References
Hopp, L. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved March 27, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/032724.html
Isaiah, CHAPTER 50 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 27, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/50?4
Matthew, CHAPTER 26 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 27, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/26?14
Meditation on Matthew 26:14-25. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved March 27, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/03/27/921723/
Psalms, PSALM 69 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 27, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/69?8
Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Cross of Racism. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved March 27, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-cross-of-racism/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Tragedy of the Betrayal. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved March 27, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=mar27
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