Daily Readings - Wed Apr 17 2019
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
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 two powerful moments of faith and betrayal. The first reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a servant who, despite suffering and humiliation, remains steadfast in his trust in God. The servant describes how he has been given the strength to endure insults and hardships, and he refuses to turn away from the path set before him. This passage is part of a series of “Suffering Servant” songs in Isaiah, which prophetically point to the Messiah who would endure suffering for the sake of others. The servant’s unwavering commitment to God’s will serves as a model of faith and perseverance in the face of adversity.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to the events leading up to the Last Supper. Here, we see the stark contrast between Judas’ betrayal and Jesus’ selfless love. Judas, driven by greed and his own desires, agrees to hand Jesus over for thirty pieces of silver. Meanwhile, Jesus gathers his disciples to share a final meal, instituting the Eucharist as a sign of his enduring love and presence among them. Even as Jesus reveals that one of his closest friends will betray him, he does not turn away from his mission. Instead, he gives himself fully to his disciples, offering his body and blood as a gift of life and redemption.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God and with others. Like the servant in Isaiah, we are called to trust in God’s plan, even when the path ahead seems uncertain or difficult. Like the disciples, we are called to receive the gift of Jesus’ presence in our lives and to live in gratitude for his sacrifice. At the same time, we are reminded of the reality of sin and betrayal—both in the world and in our own hearts. Let us ask ourselves: Where do we place our trust? How do we respond to suffering or betrayal? And how do we live out the love and self-giving that Jesus modeled for us? May we strive to follow Jesus’ example, offering ourselves in love and service to others, even as we acknowledge our own weaknesses and limitations.