Wednesday of Holy Week
(Isaiah 50:4-91; Matthew 26:14-25)
Today is often called “Spy Wednesday” presumably because the gospel of today’s mass tells of Judas “look(ing) for an opportunity to hand (Jesus) over.” It is an especially egregious act. The gospel mentions that Judas is paid thirty pieces of silver for his betrayal. This may sound like a lot of money, but actually it is a paltry sum. It is like paying a hit man only $50 to murder someone. Rather than think of Judas as greedy, He may be thought of as malicious. John’s gospel obliquely conveys this idea. It remarks immediately after Judas leaves the supper chamber, “And it was night.”
Although Peter’s denial is sometimes compared to Judas’ betrayal, the two are very different crimes. They differ like a flu differs from a cancer. Peter is under duress when he says that he does not know Jesus. In contrast, Judas willingly goes to the chief priests seeking to hand Jesus over.
We should see our susceptibility to both kinds of sin. Like Peter, we might deny Jesus, the truth, by lying when threatened by loss of power, prestige, or money. It is also possible that we betray our commitments like Judas. Spouses do this in the act of adultery and priests, in any kind of tryst. We can betray friends by revealing intimate secrets. In any case, let us continually pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance to avoid all infidelity.
