Wednesday 1^st April – Wednesday of Holy Week

Reflection: Matthew 26:14-25

SURELY IT IS NOT I, LORD?

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?”

In the presence of Divinity, no one was sure of his innocence, and everyone asked, “Is it I?” yet, one of the apostles knew he was the traitor. Though Our Lord revealed His knowledge of the treason, Judas still had a fixed determination to do the evil. Notwithstanding the revelation of his evil intent, he was not ashamed to consummate it in all its ugliness. Some people turn away from sin, when the sins are put bluntly before them. They conceivably shrink from sowing their wild oats. Not so with Judas; he saw his treachery described clearly and still said, “Surely it is not I, Lord?”  In revealing His knowledge of the betrayal, Our Blessed Lord held open to Judas the opportunity for repentance. But, did he accept it? No!

Dear friends, today Christ offers us the same opportunity for repentance. Are we going to accept it and turn from our evil ways and plans? The psalmist says, “O that you will listen to His voice today, harden not your hearts” (Ps 95:7). If we have abandoned the truth and embraced falsehood because of personal gain; or decided to satisfy the pleasures of our heart at the expense of God; if we decided to flow with the contemporary world and live by its rules; if we have decided not to forgive or have conceived to do anything contrary to God’s ways; today is the day of repentance. That we may not be lost like Judas, let us harken to the clarion call to repentance and live for God

Beloved in Christ, rather than justifying our righteousness before God and saying, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” let us look into ourselves and see the aspects of our life that God is calling us to make amendments and let us pray for the grace to live for God.

PRAYER: From all trials and temptations, Lord, please save me, lest my soul perish. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 315 – What is a sin in the first place?

A sin is a word, deed, or intention by which man deliberately and voluntarily offends against the true order of things, as God’s loving providence has arranged them. To sin means more than to violate some rules about which men have agreed. Sin turns freely and deliberately against God’s love and ignores him.

HIDE A TREASURE: “If you hear God’s voice, do not be stubborn as they were in the place called Rebellion.” Hebrews 3:15 CCB

Today’s Readings: Isaiah 50:4-9, Psalm 69:8-10, 21-22, 31-34, Matthew 26:14-25