Daily Readings - Wed Mar 28 2018
First Reading - Isaiah 50.4-9a
Isaiah
4The Lord has given me a learned tongue, so that I would know how to uphold with a word, one who has weakened. He rises in the morning, he rises to my ear in the morning, so that I may heed him like a teacher5The Lord God has opened my ear. And I do not contradict him. I have not turned back6I have given my body to those who strike me, and my cheeks to those who plucked them. I have not averted my face from those who rebuked me and who spit on me7The Lord God is my helper. Therefore, I have not been confounded. Therefore, I have set my face like a very hard rock, and I know that I will not be confounded8He who justifies me is near. Who will speak against me? Let us stand together. Who is my adversary? Let him approach me9Behold, the Lord God is my helper. Who is the one who would condemn me? Behold, they will all be worn away like a garment; the moth will devour them
Gospel - Matthew 26.14-26
Matthew
14Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the leaders of the priests15and he said to them, "What are you willing to give me, if I hand him over to you?" So they appointed thirty pieces of silver for him16And from then on, he sought an opportunity to betray him17Then, on the first day of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus, saying, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?18So Jesus said, "Go into the city, to a certain one, and say to him: ‘The Teacher said: My time is near. I am observing the Passover with you, along with my disciples.’ 19And the disciples did just as Jesus appointed to them. And they prepared the Passover20Then, when evening arrived, he sat at table with his twelve disciples21And while they were eating, he said: "Amen I say to you, that one of you is about to betray me.22And being greatly saddened, each one of them began to say, "Surely, it is not I, Lord?23But he responded by saying: "He who dips his hand with me into the dish, the same will betray me24Indeed, the Son of man goes, just as it has been written about him. But woe to that man by whom the Son of man will be betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had not been born.25Then Judas, who betrayed him, responded by saying, "Surely, it is not I, Master?" He said to him, "You have said it.26Now while they were eating the meal, Jesus took bread, and he blessed and broke and gave it to his disciples, and he said: "Take and eat. This is my body.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound themes of suffering, betrayal, and redemption. The first reading from Isaiah portrays a figure who, despite facing adversity, remains steadfast in his mission, trusting in God's guidance and support. This figure, often seen as a prefiguration of Christ, embodies the willingness to endure hardship for a greater purpose. The second reading from Matthew recounts the events leading to Jesus's crucifixion, highlighting Judas's betrayal and the institution of the Eucharist during the Last Supper. These narratives intertwine, illustrating the contrast between betrayal and selfless love.
The context of Isaiah's passage is rooted in the "Suffering Servant" songs, which symbolize a figure who bears the sins of others through voluntary suffering. This is mirrored in Matthew's account, where Jesus, aware of the impending betrayal, chooses to endure it for the salvation of humanity. Both readings emphasize trust in divine providence and the transformative power of suffering.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on how we face trials and betrayals. Like the Suffering Servant, we can trust in God's plan, even amidst challenges. The moral lesson here is one of selfless love and forgiveness. Just as Jesus forgave Judas, we are called to forgive others and seek forgiveness for our own shortcomings. Let us strive to emulate Christ's example, offering our struggles as acts of love and seeking to deepen our relationship with God through trust and humility.