The Lord GOD has given me
a well-trained tongue,
That I might know how to speak to the weary
a word that will rouse them.
Morning after morning
he opens my ear that I may hear;
And I have not rebelled,
have not turned back.
I gave my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who plucked my beard;
My face I did not shield
from buffets and spitting.

The Lord GOD is my help,
therefore I am not disgraced;
I have set my face like flint,
knowing that I shall not be put to shame.
He is near who upholds my right;
if anyone wishes to oppose me,
let us appear together.
Who disputes my right?
Let him confront me.
See, the Lord GOD is my help;
who will prove me wrong?

Isaiah 50: 4-9

Here are the complete readings for Wednesday, April 16, 2025.

(“Judas” by Stephanie Amos)

Throughout history Judas has been portrayed as a coward and an incarnation of evil. The name itself has become a vulgar adjective to this day. Other scholars have suggested that his motives, while not pure, were rooted in a desire to accelerate Jesus’ revolutionary vision. Judas saw Jesus as a way to overcome the oppression from the Roman Empire who occupied Palestine at that time. No one knows for sure why Judas betrayed Jesus. Regardless, his actions had devastating consequences, and Judas realized how deep his treachery cut as the Passion unfolded. How are we to process this story other than as a cautionary tale about knowing who your friends really are, or the ramifications of betrayal? Could we look at Judas’ character arc as a reflection about the need for humility and patience which can temper unbridled zeal? Could we also imagine this story as a thought experiment about just how far God’s forgiveness can reach? Would it be possible for even a hopeless sinner like Judas to have the chance to reflect and repent? We will never know of course, but we can use this narrative to meditate on our own acts of betrayal of others, small and great. Does the action strain or actually sever our relationships? Do we have the humility to recognize our poverty of spirit and look to make amends? Can we see the innate dignity in people who have hurt us, and remember their humanity whether they ask for forgiveness or not? When we go through Holy Week, we have the chance to experience the daily gift of forgiving grace as played out in public in a moment of history, when God and humanity intersect at the cross. Dare we doubt how and who even the worst of us can have the chance at some kind of redemption? Many years ago, the band U2 released a song called “Until the End of the World.” At the time I thought it was about a couple who had broken up over infidelity. I did not realize until I was older that the song is a fictionalized confession by Judas to Jesus. The title of the song comes from Jesus’ promise that he will always be with us, until the end of the world. How can we think otherwise?

Theodore James Ryken looked upon his original vocation
as being a conversion
through which he
fell in love
with the service of God.
Yet, he too,
came to the understanding
that a continual conversion is needed.
Be patient, therefore, with yourself and with God. – The Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers

God, you have redeemed us through the life and death of Jesus. Give us the confidence to speak to those who have been forgotten, and to the people who have forgotten them. Thank you for showing us that while grace does not come cheaply, it is always available and offered freely. Give us the mind and heart to believe that our mission on earth is always growing and changing, which helps us to follow Christ and be Christ in this world.

Amen