Holy Week

Today is Wednesday of Holy Week. We have made it through the weeks of lent and now we are approaching the holy moments that lead up to the passing and resurrection of Christ.

Today I am reflecting on Judas’ betrayal of Jesus, a betrayal so painful and reckless that it leads to the death of the son of God. Judas bargains for the life of Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Judas spent years with Christ and saw his forgiving ways. He saw him get rid of demons and Satan himself. He saw Jesus resurrect, heal the afflicted. However, he sacrificed this relationship for 30 pieces of silver. And yet, Jesus still invites Judas, his betrayer, to the holy meal. As stated in my lenten devotional by Cameron Bellm, this act of Jesus inviting his betrayer to the table is an example of his “radical inclusivity.” He “who never ever shuts the door on us.” No matter the sins that we commit and cannot let go of, we are still invited to his table to commune with God.

Who do we exclude from our company? Who do we withhold our love from? If Jesus can allow Judas at his table, we can too. No matter how many times we are condemned, we can still reach out our hand of love, friendship, and support in an effort to heal.

“Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?’ And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him” (Matthew 26: 14-16).

“He answered, ‘He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.’ Judas, who would betray him, answered, ‘Is it I, Rabbi?’ He said to him, ”You have said so.’ (Matthew 26: 23-25).

On this Holy Wednesday, I want to work to lay down the sins that I grasp onto tightly that are hindering my closeness to Jesus. My thirty pieces of silver. May we not make the same mistake as Judas and may we instead be a model of Jesus’ radical inclusivity.