DAILY GRACE
April 8, 2020, Wednesday of Holy Week
Hello Everyone,
It is difficult for all of us to not be able to observe Holy Week as we usually do. I hope that these bits of “Daily Grace” are at least helping to keep us in tune with the momentous events that took place in Jerusalem that last week of Jesus’ life. I wish you all God’s comfort and peace as we remain apart for this season of time for the well-being of everyone.
Pastor Dave
Scripture: Matthew 26:14-25
Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I betray him to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.
On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.” Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.”
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Meditation
“My time is near.”
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus shows us that fidelity to one’s vocation is lived one minute at a time. Jesus’ fidelity is lived out on a continuous stream of “now” moments: announcing the Kingdom of God, healing the sick, forgiving the sinful, all leading up to the appointed hour.
The Passover is beginning today, April 8, 2020, just as it was beginning at that moment in the last week of Jesus’ life. Today, Jews around the world are having to come up with alternatives to their traditional Passover gatherings out of concern for COVID-19. At the beginning of that Passover long ago pilgrims were streaming into Jerusalem, including Jesus and his closest disciples. Our Lord knew what was coming: “My time is near.” Already in chapter 26 of Matthew he has foretold his crucifixion during the Passover (v. 2). He has declared the anointing at Bethany a preparation for his burial (v. 12). He has known, too, that one of his own disciples will betray him — an inside job.
In the face of betrayal, torture, and death, what does Jesus do? He goes on with his vocation of revealing the faithful love of God for his people. At this precise moment it means preparing and celebrating the Passover meal.
Betrayal is devastating. It is hard to say what is worse, to be caught off guard or to see it coming. Either way the sin of betrayal kicks us in the gut when we experience it. The example of Jesus is all the more astounding because, while he acknowledges Judas’ betrayal as it is happening, he does not change his plans to avoid the situation. Neither does he lash out at Judas or retaliate in any way. Jesus, the absolute expression of God’s love, is not sidetracked. Instead, he continues to freely give of himself.
Today we stand on the brink of the Sacred Triduum, and the Church gives us the calm deliberate choices of Jesus to continue his mission. He knows this will lead to Calvary. We also ponder the calculated moves of Judas, which will lead to his duplicitous kiss.
Fidelity (or its opposite) is lived out moment by moment, choice by choice. What is God calling me to do in this time of COVID-19? In this “hour” of my salvation?
Prayer
Lord, I want to be with you completely in these days of pandemic distancing, and I want to be with you when we remember your passion and death. When I think of your fidelity to your vocation, your total self-giving in the face of the betrayal and cowardice of your disciples, I am deeply humbled. Time is a precious gift; help me to use this time apart as wisely and as selflessly as you did in your public ministry. Strengthen me so that in these days of crisis I may choose faithful love no matter the cost.
Contemplation
Faithful love is lived out moment by moment.