Spy Wednesday
Judas has contacted the Jewish leaders. He is willing to turn over Jesus to them.
Why does he have to turn over Jesus? Why don’t they just arrest Jesus? As in any true-life event, Jesus is not always out in the open. He does not always share, even with the disciples, where they are going or where they will be that evening. It is not His hour and as He is in control always, He will not be arrested until His hour comes. That means someone must tell the Pharisees where Jesus is and at what time.
That time has come. Jesus sends two of His disciples to prepare the Passover. Judas now knows approximately where the location is. Judas would also know where Jesus liked to go to pray, in the garden of Gethsemane. Judas now has an area to bring the guards to arrest Jesus. Thus, the title today, Spy Wednesday.
Let us now put ourselves at table with Jesus. Jesus announces that someone will betray Him. What is your reaction? Would it be like the disciples. They become defensive. Surely, not me. Who could it be? Who would do such a terrible thing?
If you respond like this, although it might make sense at the time, it is really the sin of pride slipping into your heart. You are judging yourself better than the others when at any time any one of us could denounce Jesus, just as we did in the reading of the Passion last Sunday.
A true, humble heart might say, “Please, Jesus, don’t let it be me! I struggle to love you, keep me close to your heart. Grant me the grace to overcome temptation.” We need to learn to accept our humanness with our faults and weaknesses. Thinking we can do anymore is our pride bringing us down.
May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen