Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”

Gospel Reading: 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."

“Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the story of the betrayal of Jesus by Judas. The Gospel says that the Apostles were very sorrowful, and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” Two things are clear in this simple reply.  First, they express a level of surprise and bewilderment in Jesus’ words.  Secondly, they acknowledge Jesus as Christ and Messiah.  But Judas’ reply is slightly different, he refers to Jesus as Rabbi or Master and more importantly, he responds knowing that he will be the betrayer of Jesus.  Judas was given 30 pieces of silver, the price of a slave, yet he refers to Jesus as Master. Judas represents all of us who sell out the Word of God for earthly treasures. How many times have we become slaves to earthly desires only to be mastered by them. We want and desire the latest in fashions, the most expensive cars, the most glamorous clothes, the latest in electronic gadgets.  When we sell out to these treasures we can turn our backs on Jesus Christ. Jesus tells the Apostles, “Woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” It is okay to have nice stuff, but only to the degree that it does not become the master of your life. We must not sell out to the earthly treasures which are created through lust, greed and vainglory. Instead, we should find glory and happiness in our service to the Lord. Everything we have is a gift from God.  If we treat those gifts as solely belonging to us, we deny the gifts that God has given us.  It is prudent for us to realize where our true treasures lie.  Not on this earth but in the heaven we await and long.  In our prayers, we should foster a desire for heaven and recognize who brings us to that narrow gate.  We get into heaven through the shepherd and not anyway else.  By fasting, we recognize that the earthly things are not what’s important and those things that we give up do not master us.  When we give our treasures to others, not only do we break our dependent bond on these items, we open the door to heaven for others through our generosity.  It is still not too late to make an impact before Lent is over.  What earthly treasures have become your master?  It is time to give up these for the kingdom of heaven.

A Simple Prayer

Lord God in Heaven, I raise my eyes to Passion of Christ

I know that he suffered for our sins.

I know that through my sins I betray him.

Give me the passion to avoid sin and to be his servant.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon