Wednesday of Holy Week
April 20, 2011
To see the readings, click here:
http://www.usccb.org/nab/042011.shtml
Today I can easily understand and appreciate the link between the Old Testament reading and the gospel. The gospel tells the story of Judas going to the Sanhedrin and agreeing to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, then denying that it was he when Jesus told the group assembled for the Seder that one of them would betray him. In the first reading, Isaiah tells of faithfully passing along the words that God whispered to him, and then holding his head high and trusting in God as he is badly treated by those who did not want to hear God's word. Of course, the words of Isaiah could have applied equally well to Jesus: he did as his Father told him and held his head high, suffering no disgrace or shame no matter how shamefully he was treated, because he knew he was doing the Father's will.
I learned this year, for the first time, that in some parts of the world today is known as Spy Wednesday to commemorate Judas cutting his deal with the Sanhedrin. In fact, I was horrified to learn, there is a tradition in Poland of young people throwing an effigy of Judas off a church steeple, dragging it through the streets, and ultimately drowning it in a nearby stream or pond. Certainly the Jesus-like behavior I want to instill in youth!
I found a really interesting meditation on line where the writer had put herself into the frame of mind of Judas, and wrote about it from his perspective. She did a great job of capturing the spirit of a disillusioned, disappointed follower. Jesus was not turning out the way he expected and he couldn't see past his own expectations to accept the true path of salvation. I think she did a great job of empathizing with this poor, broken man. If you're interested, you can see her take on it at:
http://revruth.wordpress.com/2010/04/01/meditation-for-spy-wednesday/.
I'm glad I wasn't raised in the tradition that focuses so very much on Judas and betrayal. I mean, we certainly acknowledge the betrayal, but only as a stop on the road to Jesus ultimate victory over death. Like Isaiah, we know that ultimately God triumphs. As long as we are with God, no one can defeat us, not even the betrayal of a loved one like Judas. So I see this reading as more of a cause to mourn for Judas than to condemn him. He condemned himself, and took his own life, and then he had to answer to God. How could I, a mere mortal with plenty of failings and weaknesses of my own, presume to judge him? Even though he did a horrible thing, I can't know how he felt or what caused him to fall. I see him as much like the woman at the well, whom Jesus said could be stoned by the one who had no sin. Like the accusers of the woman at the well, I think I'd better just walk away.
Thank you for walking with us through Holy Week, Father. Thank you for giving us such rich imagery of what happened in that last week of Jesus life, and filling it with so many lessons for us. Father, we pray again for the forgiveness of Judas soul, and we pray that you will forgive all who become disillusioned and make wrong choices -- especially when that description fits us. We pray for those who are hurt and disappointed, those who are bereaved, those who are ill and those who care for the ill. Show us where you want us to work to help them, and fill our hearts with compassion and forgiveness. Use us to do your will, oh Lord, and strengthen us for the vicarious sharing of your passion and death that await on the next two days of this Lenten Journey. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
