While we ponder the events of Holy Week, perhaps it is understandable that Wednesday’s events do not seem to merit the same level of our focus as the rest of the week.  So much had happened at the start of that week that provided profound impact for our lives. Those events led us up to Tuesday evening where Jesus detailed the incredible message of the Olivet Discourse where He explained the future to His disciples (as well as to us). Of course Jesus would not leave His disciples (and us) without explanations of what to do with that information.   He followed that revelation with the powerful parables of the ten virgins, the talents, and the sheep and the goats – all designed to provide insight as to how we need to approach the reality of life given that Olivet revelation. 

Then we get to Wednesday.  In today’s Gospel found in the 26th chapter of Matthew, we are given the details of Judas Iscariot’s betrayal.  That event certainly stuns us.  After all that Judas had experienced with Jesus and his fellow disciples, how could he betray his friend – so much more than a friend?  Perhaps these details are included to let us know that heartbreaking events do occur, that the unimaginable can happen.  Jesus gives us an example of just how to respond.  Jesus knew that Judas’ betrayal was happening on the side, yet His caring for His disciples never faltered.  As the next section of our Gospel goes on to explain, Jesus worked out all the precise details for the upcoming Passover celebration – His last Passover meal with His disciples.  It would have been so easy for Jesus to let  the evil of that betrayal take over His every thought and action, yet He simply faced it and went on with His sacred time with his disciples.   He demonstrates that we can indeed go on with life, even in the most difficult circumstances.   Because we know that He is always with us,  that He cares about our lives, and that his never-ending love never leaves us.

On this day of Passion Week, we are asked to pause our thought process.  In todays first Reading as well as in our Responsorial Psalm we find incredible insight that applies to our lives.  In the 50th chapter of Isaiah, we find the profit Isaiah pondering the direction of his life.  He understood that God had blessed him with “a well-trained tongue”.  A gift that could be effectively used to speak to the weary,  to rouse them to faith.  He knew that he was to use that gift continually,  “morning after morning” as he sought to hear the Lord’s directive for how best to use that gift.  As Isaiah goes on to point out, that path was not always easy, not always pleasant.  He faced significant hardships as a result.  He had to endure opposition, mockery and even beatings and torture.  Yet, through it all, he could confidently march on since he knew that the Lord God was always there to help. 

While the hardships we face in our lives may not include beatings and torture, we can certainly use Isaiah’s advice when we face our giants.  We can confidently rely on God’s never-failing presence and His enduring love when life treats us unjustly
In case we missed the point, Psalm 69 further details a multitude of trials and hardships – many of which we ourselves have faced or likely will face throughout the course of our lives.   Through each and every one of those challenges, we are reminded that we can count on the Lord’s never-failing love that will always be there for us. Seek God and our hearts will be revived.

This all brings us back to today’s Gospel.  In the midst of His personal betrayal, Jesus was there for His disciples.  He was taking care of the smallest details of their lives.  He was comforting them. He was loving them.         

Dear Heavenly Father , it just seems impossible to find the words to adequately express our gratitude for the love you expressed through the horror of the cross.  As we face the pain in our lives, help us to never lose sight of your loving presence.  Bless us with eyes to see and ears to hear as we seek your will in steadfastly proclaiming your unfailing love.  In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen