Like yesterday, the scripture passages for today present us with the story of Judas Iscariot, but this time, the words of another of the gospel writers. Today, as we read this story, perhaps we are struck by the opening scene: Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and said, 'What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?' (Mt 26:15). Judas was the keeper of the common purse - the money that was held in common among Jesus and his disciples, but there was a also another side to him, and this side comes to light today. This is a side of him that is not spoken of in other parts of the scriptures, for it is a darker, more sinister side. Do we not all know this to be true of ourselves? Is there not a part of us that we too would wish to keep hidden from God ... the part of us that is imperfect but the part of us nonetheless that we would rather not surrender?
Judas succeeded in hiding that part of himself from the other disciples, but he could not keep it hidden from Jesus. What went through Judas' mind when he heard Jesus say: ... one of you will betray me ... (Mt 26:21)? He had been discovered. The words Jesus speaks are clear enough. When Judas tries to deny his guilt, Jesus simply replies: You have said so (Mt 26:25). Without pointing out his guilt, Jesus tells Judas that he is aware of his impending betrayal.
With this same tenderness, Jesus is present to all of us, his disciples. He is constantly calling us, inviting us to be the best that we can be. In this time of isolation and social distancing, he is calling us to be the best husbands and wives we possibly can be, the best parents, the most loving grandparents. He is calling us to reach out to others by means of telephone calls and through social media. He is calling us to take care of one another in a way that we have perhaps forgotten until most recently ... and he is calling us to a renewed understanding of the tenderness with which he loves each one of us. With great tenderness, he is calling us to bring to light all the things that we have kept hidden from him and from others ... perhaps even from ourselves ... so that he can heal them, so that he can heal us.
When we dare to allow the Lord to help us in this way, we discover a new level of joy, a renewed desire to tell others about him and about his goodness. We rediscover the joy of knowing the risen Lord. As we prepare to celebrate the Easter Triduum, let us ask for the grace to bring to light the parts of ourselves that we have kept hidden so that we too can speak the words of the prophet Isaiah: The Lord God has given me a well-trained tongue ... the Lord God is my help (Is 50:4, 7).
Have a great day.
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