Lenten Reflection

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Matthew 26:14-25

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot,
went to the chief priests and said,
"What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?"
They paid him thirty pieces of silver,
and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
the disciples approached Jesus and said,
"Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?"
He said, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, '
The teacher says, My appointed time draws near;
in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.'"
The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.

When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve.
And while they were eating,
he said, "Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me."
Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another,
"Surely it is not I, Lord?" He said in reply,
"He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me
is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes,
as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom
the Son of Man is betrayed.
It would be better for that man if he had never been born."
Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?"
He answered, "You have said so."

Reflection
Linda Dillon, Associate Dean for Admissions aned Enrollment
Fran Dillon '70, Vice President for Advancement

Matthew's gospel relates the story of Jesus' betrayal by Judas for thirty pieces of silver. Judas was a follower of Christ, one of the twelve chosen by Christ. What made him turn against Christ? Maybe it was simply greed. The gospel doesn't tell us much about his motives. But it does tell us that the money did not bring Judas a life of happiness and contentment as Judas, in despair, took his own life. Through history, the name Judas has become synonymous with disloyalty, treachery, and deceit.

But today we, too, are tempted to betray Christ, as Judas did, in our own daily lives. We do this by choosing to do wrong and failing to do good. And by choosing paths that lead to wrongful decisions and failing to avoid whatever leads us to sin. Sin is our capacity to betray Christ.

This Holy Week, as we reflect on this betrayal and the passion, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are reminded that our lives have been made worthwhile by Jesus' sacrifice; we have been redeemed.

The Easter season offers us a wonderful opportunity to pray and reflect on our personal relationship with our savior and how this relationship can transform our lives.

How will we choose to live our lives to insure they remain worthwhile?
How will we deal with pain, loss, suffering and betrayal in our own lives?
How will we reaffirm our trust in God, make good choices, live truthfully and compassionately in our world, and seek to love and serve God and our fellow man?