Wednesday of Holy
Week
(Isaiah 50:4-9a; Matthew 26:14-25)
Unfortunately our gospel translation omits a word that is
in the original Greek manuscripts. The passage
should begin with the word Then. “Then one of the twelve, who was called
Judas Iscariot…” This time notation indicates
a critical moment in the lives of both Jesus and Judas.
Jesus has just been anointed by an unknown woman with
expensive ointment. His disciples
complain about the waste of money that might have been given to the poor. But Jesus tells them that there are times
when significant outlays of money are justified. Such a time is burial of the dead for which
the woman anointed Jesus. At the same
moment then Judas goes seeking money from the chief priests. For thirty pieces of silver he will deliver
Jesus into their hands. Actually it is a
small amount – the equivalent of paying a hitman approximately $50 for
committing murder. For some other reason
Judas must want Jesus out of the way. Unlike
Jesus he does not know the value of things.
A recent statement by Pope emeritus Benedict indicates
the value of something that is frequently overlooked today. The statement was issued to show how the
sexual revolution and the deterioration of moral theology gave rise to sexual
abuse of children. In the statement Benedict
emphasizes the value of faith. He says
that our Christian faith must be protected.
In the context of sexual abuse this means that the rights of an accused priest
must not be exaggerated to the extent that faith in Christ and his Church is jeopardized. In a larger context it means that we proclaim
the priority of faith when contemporaries treat it as superstition or personal
preference. Faith in Jesus gives human life
a solid meaning. It assures the presence
of love among persons and nations. It
gives everyone – from the poorest beggar to the wealthiest king – hope for
eternal life.
