Today's Thoughts...

Today’s Thoughts: Spy Wednesday, (Isaiah 50: 4-9a and Matthew 26: 14-25), the day when we pause to remember Judas’ actions many years ago. A companion, a friend of Jesus yet he allows the forces of darkness, the forces of evil to become more a friend than Jesus.
 
We do not truly know what motivated Judas. Was it his desire for money? Was it that he truly thought he would scare Jesus into changing his approach to life? Was it that he saw Jesus as a threat?  Was it that he was angry with Jesus? Had he been caught stealing money? Was he upset that Jesus challenged him at Lazarus’ house? We just don’t know the motive.
 
What we do know is the Judas sold Jesus out to the religious leadership. What we do know is that Judas could not admit to Jesus what he was about to do. He could not tell the truth and that until the end he continued to see himself as Jesus’ friend.
 
We pause to reflect on the events of the Gospel in light of our world. Hate is a betrayal of one human against another. Anger is a betrayal of one human against another. Bigotry is a betrayal of one human being against another. Terror and violence are betrayals of one human against another. Hate, anger, bigotry, terror and violence are all too common in our world, our country and our own hearts these days. Before we point our finger at others, before we vent our anger on social media, before we betray another by our words or actions let us pause to remember who has given us life and what we did to him many years ago. Let us not make the same mistake once again!
 
The Prophet Isaiah today reminds himself of who his friend truly is, God. That no matter what happens God is there to protect Isaiah in his ministry as prophet. It is not easy but Isaiah is faithful to his ministry and God is faithful to Isaiah, helping him through the struggle.
 
We encounter Isaiah’s words and in them we see Jesus. We listen to Isaiah’s words and hear Jesus speaking. Jesus is the servant who suffers, the servant who trusts in God, the servant who is abandoned by everyone except by God.
 
The questions for today – Are we with God or against God? Can we remain friends of Jesus or will the trappings of the world, will anger and hate cause us to betray him once again? Can we trust in God even in the midst of our struggles? It is often said that every person has her or his price, what is our price?
 
Blessings and peace to all on this Wednesday of Holy Week!