Homily For Wednesday of Holy Week Year B, 27th March, 2024

Readings: Is.50:4-9; Ps. 69; Matt. 26:14-25

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

DO NOT BE A TRAITOR LIKE JUDAS

What is the price of a traitor, what are the motives of a traitor? What are the consequences and repercussions of a traitorous act? The answer to these questions can be found in the life of Judas. In the Gospel passage today, Judas went to the chief priests to make a deal for handing Jesus over to them for 30 pieces of silver, the poor amount of wages paid to the shepherd. This was the amount Judas betrayed his master, an amount that he too, will throw back to the priests after realizing what evil he has done. 

This act of betrayal as predicted by Jesus before his disciples is in fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah in our first reading about the suffering Servant of God, to Whom the Lord had chosen to bear the punishments and sufferings due to our sins, that he might suffer them all instead of us. And yet, he would neither protest nor grumble against this, as it was by his desire and will that he had taken up his Cross and suffered for our sake. ‘But alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! Better for that man if he had never been born!’ 

Dear friends, 30 pieces of silver were the wages of Judas for his traitorous act. But Judas is not alone in this ugly and traitorous attitude. We can imagine what people are doing for money in our world today. Perhaps we too, have betrayed and handed Jesus and our friends and neighbours over more than once. We have often broken bread with Jesus, but later betrayed him for money, out of ambition, greed, anger, hatred, revenge or even become violent because of our own personal selfish gain. There is no doubt that the devil tempted Judas just as he had tempted us in various ways, and we have fallen just as Judas had fallen. For when we sin, no matter how grievous or small, we are still betraying the Lord. 

Therefore, let us watch it carefully during this Holy Season and indeed always not to involved in any traitorous act against God or anyone at all. If we are already involved in any, this is a period to reconsider and reconcile with them and so come back to the Lord with tears of repentance and resolve not to go back to such evil acts again as we apologize and make restitution. And in case anyone who had betrayed us should come back and ask for mercy, we must find a place in our heart to forgive, just the way Jesus has given us.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we enter into the great mystery of Easter Triduum beginning tomorrow, give us grace to journey with you in holiness, may you also forgive us for often being a traitor against you, your Church, our families, friends and our societies at large. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a grace-filled day.