Wednesday, March 31, 2021

 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.

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Tuesday of Holy Week

(Isaiah 49:1-6; John 13:21-33.36-38)

An apocryphal gospel says that Jesus instructed Judas to betray him.  It sees Judas not only as Jesus’ obedient disciple but the only one who truly understood his teaching.  Early on the Church recognized this gospel as false.  It seems to have been composed in the late second century when similarly strange ideas were circulating around the Mediterranean area.

The false gospel does raise the question of whether Judas was ever a sincere disciple.  If not, then why did Jesus choose him?  John’s Gospel tells how Jesus knew of Judas’ evil nature (6:67-71).  Still, Judas might have shown some promise when Jesus selected him for his inner core of disciples.

We should be careful not to write off anyone as irredeemably good or bad.  All of us are capable of a deed as wicked as Judas’ betrayal.  Conversely, any of us may develop the courage to stand with Jesus at the cross like the beloved disciple.  Prayer to a good extent will determine what kind of acts we shall do and what kind of people we will become.  We want to ask God for a heart that marvels at His generosity to us and takes pity on those who suffer.

Monday, March 29, 2021

 Monday of Holy Week

(Isaiah 42:1-7; John 12:1-11)

Anti-Christian theorists claim that the apostles invented the passion story.  They say that after Jesus was crucified, the apostles invented a narrative of how it took place using minutia that they found in the Scriptures.  They even believe that St. Paul admits this when he writes in I Corinthians, “…Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures…”

The Paschal event – Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection – defies ordinary experience.  But that does not mean that it was made up.  It is unique because it was God who entered history to save humans from themselves.  It is much more likely that the apostles saw what happened to Jesus and reflected on it.  Then they proclaimed the historical event with emphasis on those details that corresponded to Scripture.  The coincidence was not scant but multiple and profound.  Many of the references in the Passion accounts refer to the Suffering Servant, whom we meet in the first reading today.  Christ, like the Servant, did establish righteousness without fanfare.  He has become, like the Servant, “a light to the nations.”

Some people try to find justification for their wrongdoing by denying the truth of authority.  We can find this taking place in those who deny the authenticity of the gospel.  Not wanting to repent of their misdeeds as Jesus taught, they try to discredit Jesus.  We are wise not to follow this tack.  In following his teaching, we become more fully human.  Going to the cross with him, we will find eternal happiness.

Sunday, March 28, 2021

 PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION

(Isaiah 50: 4-7; Philippians 2: 6-11; Mark 14:1-15:47)

Each of the evangelists has their own perspective on the passion of Jesus. Luke sees Jesus spreading his goodness everywhere. John has him reigning over the world from the cross. Mark emphasizes Jesus suffering not only physical but also mental torture. In Mark Jesus dies completely isolated from his people, from his disciples, apparently from his Father, God. Let us look a little at the rejections that Jesus experiences and ask what they teach us.

In Gethsemane Jesus asks his closest disciples to watch with him. But they fall asleep. Much worse, one of the twelve betrays Jesus, and they all flee from him. Jesus is so absorbed in anguish that he fails to respond both to Judas's kiss and to the misbegotten attempt to defend him with a sword. It is not difficult to imagine how Jesus feels when he marches away with his captors: offended, disappointed, depressed.

Jesus cannot expect justice from his Jewish judges. They do the trial at night as if they want to hide the truth. They bring false witnesses who slander him. The verdict ruling is unanimous: he has to die. They add insult to pity when they spit on him, slap him, and ridicule him for being a false prophet. But he is by no means a false prophet. He has prophesied that he would undergo such brutal treatment.

The Roman trial does not go any better for Jesus. Pilate treats Jesus as if he were an animal. He hands him over to executioners to please the Jews. The soldiers then abuse him with scourges and taunts.

Of course, the worst suffering comes with crucifixion. Three groups of people come to mock Jesus: the passers-by, the high priests, and the two other men who are being crucified. No disciple approaches to comfort him while he experiences extreme distress. Finally he can't take it anymore. He cries, "My God, why have you abandoned me?" and dies. Only then does God act. He rips the temple veil in two rendering the place useless. The Roman officer gives the final human judgment when he says of Jesus: "Truly this man was the Son of God."

It seems that God has provided us with this version of passion to help us when we feel abandoned and depressed. It can be after the death of a child or the betrayal of one’s spouse. We don't know how we are going to continue. Then we should think of Jesus in this Gospel of Mark. He endures everything until he breathes his last breath.  Then he discovers that his Father's God has been close by throughout his ordeal ready to redeem him. We can count on the same God because through Jesus Christ he is our Father too.

Friday, March 26, 2021

 Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent

(Jeremiah 20:10-13; John 10:31-42)

In the gospel of John, there is no trial of Jesus before the Jewish Sanhedrin.  As a placeholder in the four-part schema of the Passion, John has an interrogation by the High Priest Annas.  Actually, the fourth gospel describes Jesus being tried by the Jews throughout his ministry.  Today’s gospel provides an instance.

As in the Jewish trial in the other gospels, the Jews ask Jesus if he is the Messiah.  Jesus has called himself the “Son of God,” which the Jews hear as blasphemous.  They are ready to execute him by stoning – the penalty for blasphemy in their Law.  Because the “hour” for his supreme sacrifice has not yet come, Jesus escapes their attempt on his life.

As the teacher is tried so will his disciples be.  We can expect to be tried as followers of Jesus.  People will observe whether we practice what we profess.  Are we always chaste in our words and actions?  We should be as true believers in Jesus.