Betrayal Glory and Liberation

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today present the challenge to address betrayal of love in our environment by living Jesus' Way of liberation and love for all.

Liberation and Love

The Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah presents the second Servant of the Lord oracle.

* [49:1–7] The second of the four “servant of the Lord” oracles (cf. note on 42:1–4).

* [49:1] Gave me my name: designated me for a special task or mission (cf. Jer 1:5).

* [49:3] Israel: the servant is identified with the people of Israel as their ideal representative; however, vv. 5–6 seem to distinguish the servant from Israel.

* [49:6] The servant’s vocation extends beyond the restoration of Israel in order to bring the knowledge of Israel’s God to the rest of the earth; cf. Lk 2:32. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 49 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 71 pleads for help and hope from God.

* [Psalm 71] A lament of an old person (Ps 71:9, 18) whose afflictions are interpreted by enemies as a divine judgment (Ps 71:11). The first part of the Psalm pleads for help (Ps 71:1–4) on the basis of a hope learned from a lifetime’s experience of God; the second part describes the menace (Ps 71:9–13) yet remains buoyant (Ps 71:14–16); the third develops the theme of hope and praise. (Psalms, PSALM 71 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of John presents the announcement of Judas’s Betrayal and prediction of Peter’s Denial.

* [13:23] The one whom Jesus loved: also mentioned in Jn 19:26; 20:2; 21:7. A disciple, called “another disciple” or “the other disciple,” is mentioned in Jn 18:15 and Jn 20:2; in the latter reference he is identified with the disciple whom Jesus loved. There is also an unnamed disciple in Jn 1:35–40; see note on Jn 1:37.

* [13:26] Morsel: probably the bitter herb dipped in salt water.

* [13:31–38] Introduction: departure and return. Terms of coming and going predominate. These verses form an introduction to the last discourse of Jesus, which extends through Jn 14–17. In it John has collected Jesus’ words to his own (Jn 13:1). There are indications that several speeches have been fused together, e.g., in Jn 14:31 and Jn 17:1. (John, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB, n.d.)

Kathy Kemler comments that Jesus tells the apostles that he must go, and they cannot follow now. Peter begs the question, why, and then claims that he will lay down his life for Jesus. But Jesus knows better, and he tells Peter so.

The drama begins with the apostles believing that their dedication, their loyalty, their willingness to follow and lay down their life will be lived out. It’s much like the beginning of each of my days: “I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day….” And then like the apostles, life happens. I encounter people, situations, my own emotions, and even though I committed just that morning to stay with Jesus, I move away and search for safety, convenience, or worse yet, act out of my emotions of frustration, anger, overwhelmed etc. Each of the apostles and ultimately each of us must make a choice between staying with Jesus with our hearts, minds, and words, or turning away. It’s hard. We don’t mean to turn away, but habits, emotions, and reactions can so easily take center stage in our lives. (Kemler, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Fight sin and put up with trials,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Your first task is to be dissatisfied with yourself, fight sin, and transform yourself into something better. Your second task is to put up with the trials and temptations of this world that will be brought on by the change in your life and to persevere to the very end in the midst of these things." (excerpt from Commentary on Psalm 59,5) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that the Book of Isaiah presents the second of the songs of the suffering servant, who suffers, dies, and is raised as a weapon for God of justice and ministry. Even in defeat he will conquer as a light to all the nations. In the Gospel of John, Jesus begins the meal with the prediction of one, Judas, who will betray Him. When Judas leaves it is night. In the time of day and the choice of the dark by Judas, Jesus predicts His cross, the hour of glory in John’s Gospel. Friar Jude notes the contrast between Judas' darkness and Jesus' light. We have to live in the light and choose what is good and holy.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Isaiah 49:1-6 comments that Holy Week is not about simply recounting events from long ago. God’s plan—his surprising, fanfare-free strategy of salvation—is still being revealed today. What began centuries ago with the promise of a restored Israel being “gathered” into one continues as all “the nations” gradually come together to receive the free gift of salvation (Isaiah 49:5, 6).

So make the way of humility—the surprising tactic of the mighty God—your Way of the Cross this week. Open yourself to the Lord’s mercy in Confession. Make time for a friend or neighbor or coworker who needs encouragement. Serve people in a way that mirrors Jesus’ heart of self-sacrificial love. Lean on him, your “secret weapon,” to withstand temptation. You can be confident that the Lord’s grace and mercy are constantly at work in you and around you, even in hidden and unexpected ways.

“Jesus, make me—like you—a polished arrow hidden by your side!” (Meditation on Isaiah 49:1-6, n.d.)

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Biblical scholar Jennifer Garcia Bashaw who considers ancient religious practices of scapegoating. From our places of comfort, we are challenged to reverse the all-too-common scapegoating that takes place in our culture.

And so, it is together that we must follow in Jesus’s footsteps, conforming our lives and our churches to the values Jesus modeled…. We must call for and participate in the same kind of reversal that Jesus did. We must lift up the poor, the oppressed, and the outcasts and bring down the people, powers, and systems that create poverty, that marginalize the weak, and that scapegoat the outsiders. We must gather together at the communion table to remember the scapegoat’s death—and what it revealed—so that we might trade the needless cycle of fear, blame, and violence for the liberating cycle of confession, inclusion, and imitation of Christ. The reversal of powers, this movement from being a community that scapegoats to a community that liberates, is how we can participate fully in the divine reign of God that is remaking the world. It is how we will finally follow Jesus, in his life and his death, toward a world without scapegoats. [3] (Rohr, n.d.)

As we journey through Holy Week we implore the Spirit to awaken our awareness and inspire our action to address betrayal that threatens liberation, life and love in our communities.

References

Isaiah, CHAPTER 49 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 31, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/49?1 

John, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 31, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/13?21 

Kemler, K. (n.d.). Daily Reflections. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved March 31, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-march-31-2026 

Meditation on Isaiah 49:1-6. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved March 31, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/03/31/1529858/ 

Psalms, PSALM 71 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved March 31, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/71?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Scapegoating Today. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved March 31, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/scapegoating-today/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Betrayal and Faltering Loyalty to Jesus. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 31, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Anointing as Servant

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, Monday of Holy Week, challenge us to adopt our role as servants of the Lord in our daily encounters with the people on our journey.

Our Servant Journey

The Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah presents The Servant of the Lord.

* [42:1–4] Servant: three other passages have been popularly called “servant of the Lord” poems: 49:1–7; 50:4–11; 52:13–53:12. Whether the servant is an individual or a collectivity is not clear (e.g., contrast 49:3 with 49:5). More important is the description of the mission of the servant. In the early Church and throughout Christian tradition, these poems have been applied to Christ; cf. Mt 12:18–21.

* [42:3] Bruised reed…: images to express the gentle manner of the servant’s mission.

* [42:4] Coastlands: for Israel, the world to the west: the islands and coastal nations of the Mediterranean. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 42 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 27 asserts boundless hope that God will bring rescue.

* [Psalm 27] Tradition has handed down the two sections of the Psalm (Ps 27:1–6; 7–14) as one Psalm, though each part could be understood as complete in itself. Asserting boundless hope that God will bring rescue (Ps 27:1–3), the psalmist longs for the presence of God in the Temple, protection from all enemies (Ps 27:4–6). In part B there is a clear shift in tone (Ps 27:7–12); the climax of the poem comes with “I believe” (Ps 27:13), echoing “I trust” (Ps 27:3). (Psalms, PSALM 27 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of John presents the Anointing of Jesus at Bethany.

* [12:1–8] This is probably the same scene of anointing found in Mk 14:3–9 (see note there) and Mt 26:6–13. The anointing by a penitent woman in Lk 7:36–38 is different. Details from these various episodes have become interchanged.

* [12:3] The feet of Jesus: so Mk 14:3; but in Mt 26:6, Mary anoints Jesus’ head as a sign of regal, messianic anointing.

* [12:5] Days’ wages: literally, “denarii.” A denarius is a day’s wage in Mt 20:2; see note on Jn 6:7.

* [12:7] Jesus’ response reflects the rabbinical discussion of what was the greatest act of mercy, almsgiving or burying the dead. Those who favored proper burial of the dead thought it an essential condition for sharing in the resurrection. (John, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB, n.d.)

Suzanne Braddock comments that the money spent to purchase this very expensive perfume could have been given to the poor as some in the company protest. Jesus knows when to place a different act of charity ahead, explaining that the poor we will always have with us but He will not always be present in this manner. There is room in His mind for Mary’s almost outrageously generous outpouring of love and care.

John’s well-known account of Jesus’ anointing is unique among the several gospels recounting the story, pointing to the later account of Jesus’ washing of the apostles’ feet.  What struck me most when I compared the different accounts was the actual act of anointing - Mary, Martha’s sister, pours the expensive contents of an alabaster jar on Jesus’ head in two gospels, but in John’s gospel, she anoints only His feet, then wipes His feet with her hair. Nard is used even today as a hair treatment. Mary’s act of kindness also blessed her. Perhaps we can claim a blessing from our acts of kindness as well.

During this Holy Week, what can I do to both give and receive love and kindness? The fragrance of acts of kindness can fill the whole room. (Braddock, 2026)

Don Schwager quotes “God first loved us,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Fulfill the commandments out of love. Could anyone refuse to love our God, so abounding in mercy, so just in all His ways? Could anyone deny love to Him Who first loved us despite all our injustice and all our pride? Could anyone refuse to love God Who so loved us as to send His only Son not only to live among human beings but also to be put to death for their sake and at their own hands?." (excerpt from Catechetical Instructions 39) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that Isaiah is offering the first Song of the Suffering Servant, who would be killed and buried among robbers. In the passage today, the Servant would bring justice to the nations by being very meek and be a light to the people including the Gentiles and pagans including for the nations and all peoples on the earth. In John’s Gospel Mary is anointing the feet of Jesus in the house with an “aromatic nard”. It is important that this phrase only appears in the Hebrew Testament in the Song of Songs. The fragrance that fills the house is an act of great love. Judas wants social work and Mary wants to love the person in front of her. Jesus realizes that by giving life to Lazarus the leaders will try to kill Him. Friar Jude reminds us that in the Nazi regime modern art was forbidden to curb imagination and the power to believe in the Life Jesus gives us.

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 12:1-11 comments that Mary knew that Jewish kings and priests were anointed, so she decided to treat Jesus like the king and priest that he was. And she didn’t use the everyday oil people would ordinarily use. She held nothing back. She chose this special oil, held in a jar made of alabaster.

Mary’s extravagant love calls us to follow in her footsteps. So consider: how can you be generous with God? How can you pour yourself out to honor him? You might spend some extra time praying with the Mass readings this week or lifting your heart in praise and worship as you sit before the Blessed Sacrament or a crucifix. You might say yes to a chance to serve this week, loving the Lord through the sacrifice of your time and energy. It’s never too late to draw close to Jesus and to respond to the lavish love and mercy he has shown you!

“Jesus, grant me the grace this Holy Week to pour myself out in love for you.” (Meditation on John 12:1-11, n.d.)

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, describes the scapegoat ritual that took place on Yom Kippur, the Jewish holy day of atonement. The word “scapegoating” originated from an ingenious ritual described in Leviticus 16. According to Jewish law, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest laid hands on an “escaping” goat, placing all the sins of the Jewish people from the previous year onto the animal.

In worshiping Jesus as the scapegoat, Christians should have learned to stop scapegoating, but we didn’t. We are still utterly wrong whenever we create arbitrary victims to avoid our own complicity in evil. It seems to be the most effective diversionary tactic. History has shown us that authority itself is not a good guide. Yet for many people, authority figures soothe their anxiety and relieve their own responsibility to form a mature conscience. We love to follow someone else and let them take the responsibility. It is a universal story line in history and culture.

With the mistaken view of God as a Punisher-in-Chief that most Christians seem to hold, we think our own violence is necessary and even good. But there is no such thing as redemptive violence. Violence doesn’t save; it only destroys all parties in both the short and long term. Jesus replaced the myth of redemptive violence with the truth of redemptive suffering. He showed us on the cross how to hold the pain and let it transform us. (Rohr, n.d.)

As we journey in Holy Week, we invoke the Spirit to enlighten our understanding of the role of the Suffering Servant as the guide in our action as followers of Christ.

References

Braddock, S. (2026, March 30). Daily Reflection March 30, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved March 30, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-march-30-2026 

Isaiah, CHAPTER 42 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 30, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/42?1 

John, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 30, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/12?1 

Meditation on John 12:1-11. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved March 30, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/03/30/1529328/ 

Psalms, PSALM 27 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 30, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/27? 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). A Communal Ritual. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved March 30, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-communal-ritual/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Extravagant Love for Jesus. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 30, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/