HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF HOLY WEEK. (2)

HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF HOLY WEEK.

THEME: How Judas Iscariot Betrayed His Master Jesus Christ.

BY: Fr. Deotatious Chikontwe SMA.

*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Isaiah 50:4-9
Ps 68:8-10,21-22,31,33-34
Matthew 26:14-25

*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
PURPLE

*ABOUT THE FIRST READING*
Today is the Holy Wednesday and in our first reading, the prophet Isaiah speaks of the Lord as giving him a disciples’ tongue to reply to the wearied and as waking him every morning to hear, to listen, like a disciple. It is the listening like a disciple that allows him to speak like a disciple. A disciple’s ear makes possible a disciple’s tongue. A disciple was someone who sat the feet of the Master and listen attentively and then lived accordingly. We are all called to be disciples in that sense. We try to develop a disciple’s ear, a readiness to listen ever more deeply to what the Lord is saying to us through his word. As we grow in our listening ability, we will be enabled to speak like a disciple, to have a disciples’ tongue, and to live like a disciple.

*FROM THE GOSPEL READING*
Today’s gospel passage tells us about Judas betraying Jesus. And through this passage we know that He has already decided to betray Him. Because of this, Jesus confronts His disciples by saying: “Amen I say to you one of you will betray me.” But Judas still affords to answer back to Jesus saying: “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He is insincere and hypocritical. Does Jesus make a mistake in choosing Judas to be one of His apostles and intimate friends? What lead to this tragic decision of Judas?

*WHY DID JUDAS ISCARIOT BETRAY JESUS CHRIST?*
Many Bible commentaries said that Judas had three possible reasons why he betrays Jesus.

1. First, maybe due to avarice or he is motivated by greed. If you can still remember last Holy Monday’s gospel where Jesus visited Martha, Mary and Lazarus and where Mary, to show her gratitude to Jesus, washed His feet and poured His head with her expensive perfume? Judas protested against that act. He said that if this “wasted” perfume were sold, the money could be given to the poor. But in reality Judas had no concern for the poor.

2.Second is due to his bitter hatred of Christ. He is disappointed or disillusioned. Maybe he thinks that Jesus is too slow and not so aggressive to set up His Messianic kingdom. Or he wants to use Jesus for his own purposes and that is, to have wealth and honor.

3. Third is may be that Judas never intended Jesus to die. Actually, Judas came from a highly nationalistic family. And perhaps he joins Jesus in the hope of finding in Him a gifted national leader.

*CONCLUSION*
At the end let us examine ourselves in the light of God’s truth and grace and ask Him to strengthen us in faith, hope and love that we may not fail Him or forsake Him when we are tempted. And let us ask ourselves: do we consider ourselves close friends of Christ? Or can we afford to betray Jesus as Judas was? It is because our friendship with Christ is something we must defend and cultivate. It should be immune from the cancer of pride and egoism.
The Lord Be With You!

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