Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Wednesday of Holy Week
April 16, 2014
Wednesday of Holy Week
Is 50:4-9a / Ps 69:8-10, 21-22, 31 and 33-34 / Mt 26:14-25
Reading: Is 50:4-9a
The Lord Yahweh has taught me so I speak as his disciple and I know how to sustain the weary.
Morning after morning he wakes me up to hear, to listen like a disciple. The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear. I have not rebelled, nor have I withdrawn. I offered my back to those who strike me, my cheeks to those who pulled my beard; neither did I shield my face from blows, spittle and disgrace. I have not despaired, for the Lord Yahweh comes to my help. So, like a flint I set my face, knowing that I will not be disgraced. He who avenges me is near. Who then will accuse me? Let us confront each other. Who is now my accuser? Let him approach. If the Lord Yahweh is my help, who will condemn me?
Gospel: Mt 26:14-25
Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went off to the chief priests and said, "How much will you give me if I hand him over to you?" They promised to give him thirty pieces of silver, and from then on he kept looking for the best way to hand him over to them. On the first day of the Festival of the Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said to him, "Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?" Jesus answered, "Go into the city, to the house of a certain man, and tell him: 'The Master says: My hour is near, and I will celebrate the Passover with my disciples in your house." The disciples did as Jesus had ordered and prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, Jesus sat at table with the Twelve. While they were eating, Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you: one of you will betray me." They were deeply distressed and asked him in turn, "You do not mean me, do you, Lord?" He answered, "He who will betray me is one of those who dips his bread in the dish with me. The Son of Man is going as the Scriptures say he will. But alas for that one who betrays the Son of Man; better for him not to have been born." Judas, who was betraying him, also asked, "You do not mean me, Master, do you?" Jesus replied, "You have said it."
Reflection:
The narration of the betrayal describes in detail the treachery of Judas. The name of Judas carries such a stigma that no one would ever want to name any child Judas. Even with civil authorities, treason and treachery carry a grave punishment. To be Judas is also associated with being a traitor - a figure to be despised. And yet in Scripture, there is another disciple known to be a traitor. It is in the figure of Peter, the one whom Jesus handed the keys of the Church. Peter denied knowing Jesus not just once, but thrice. These two figures who betrayed Christ had their own reasons for betraying and denying him. Both of them betrayed, denied Jesus and both of them also regretted after. The main difference is that while Judas took his own life, Peter just wept bitterly and relied on the mercy of the Lord. No one exactly knows the fate of Judas. But we do know that Christ forgave our sins to save mankind.
We have two paths to take when we commit sin. We can either get discouraged and think we are hopeless or we can, as Peter did, repent and be assured of the infinite mercy of the Father.
Prayer Requests:
We pray ...
... for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn
... for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary
... for families who are in need of healing
* Louie Relatado, Romie Ang, Lorenzo Sy, Dion Yu, Zeny Balatbat, Rose Lee
... for world peace and reconciliation
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
**************************************************
These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following:
+================================================+
| The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
| priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish
| http://www.marythequeen.org
| Distributed free and for personal use only.
+================================================+
-- Wednesday of Holy Week
Is 50:4-9a / Ps 69:8-10, 21-22, 31 and 33-34 / Mt 26:14-25
Reading: Is 50:4-9a
The Lord Yahweh has taught me so I speak as his disciple and I know how to sustain the weary.
Morning after morning he wakes me up to hear, to listen like a disciple. The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear. I have not rebelled, nor have I withdrawn. I offered my back to those who strike me, my cheeks to those who pulled my beard; neither did I shield my face from blows, spittle and disgrace. I have not despaired, for the Lord Yahweh comes to my help. So, like a flint I set my face, knowing that I will not be disgraced. He who avenges me is near. Who then will accuse me? Let us confront each other. Who is now my accuser? Let him approach. If the Lord Yahweh is my help, who will condemn me?
Gospel: Mt 26:14-25
Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went off to the chief priests and said, "How much will you give me if I hand him over to you?" They promised to give him thirty pieces of silver, and from then on he kept looking for the best way to hand him over to them. On the first day of the Festival of the Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said to him, "Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?" Jesus answered, "Go into the city, to the house of a certain man, and tell him: 'The Master says: My hour is near, and I will celebrate the Passover with my disciples in your house." The disciples did as Jesus had ordered and prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, Jesus sat at table with the Twelve. While they were eating, Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you: one of you will betray me." They were deeply distressed and asked him in turn, "You do not mean me, do you, Lord?" He answered, "He who will betray me is one of those who dips his bread in the dish with me. The Son of Man is going as the Scriptures say he will. But alas for that one who betrays the Son of Man; better for him not to have been born." Judas, who was betraying him, also asked, "You do not mean me, Master, do you?" Jesus replied, "You have said it."
Reflection:
The narration of the betrayal describes in detail the treachery of Judas. The name of Judas carries such a stigma that no one would ever want to name any child Judas. Even with civil authorities, treason and treachery carry a grave punishment. To be Judas is also associated with being a traitor - a figure to be despised. And yet in Scripture, there is another disciple known to be a traitor. It is in the figure of Peter, the one whom Jesus handed the keys of the Church. Peter denied knowing Jesus not just once, but thrice. These two figures who betrayed Christ had their own reasons for betraying and denying him. Both of them betrayed, denied Jesus and both of them also regretted after. The main difference is that while Judas took his own life, Peter just wept bitterly and relied on the mercy of the Lord. No one exactly knows the fate of Judas. But we do know that Christ forgave our sins to save mankind.
We have two paths to take when we commit sin. We can either get discouraged and think we are hopeless or we can, as Peter did, repent and be assured of the infinite mercy of the Father.
Prayer Requests:
We pray ...
... for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn
... for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary
... for families who are in need of healing
* Louie Relatado, Romie Ang, Lorenzo Sy, Dion Yu, Zeny Balatbat, Rose Lee
... for world peace and reconciliation
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
**************************************************
These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following:
+================================================+
| The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
| priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish
| http://www.marythequeen.org
| Distributed free and for personal use only.
+================================================+
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# posted by F O O D F O R T H O U G H T @ 6:36 AM 
