Jesus, Judas and the 30 pieces of silver
April 12, 2017
by Andrew Domingo
by Andrew Domingo
Today, Wednesday of the Holy Week is also called “Spy Wednesday”. It was called such because it is traditionally remembered as the day Judas conspired with the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus and have him arrested.
Today’s Gospel tells us of the conspiracy between Judas and the Sanhedrin in order to have Jesus arrested and questioned for his practices and preaching.
The Sanhedrin gave Judas 30 pieces of silver in exchange of betraying his friend and teacher. Jesus knew this. But he did not withdraw from his mission. Jesus taught us, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
The cross on which he was crucified and died is not a symbol of terror and violence. Jesus’ cross is a symbol of his unconditional love for all of us.
A friend once told me, “Remember this: Someone has already died for you.”
Yes we sometimes forget this fact. That we have a friend who gave up his life for us because of his unconditional love for us.
And so when we feel lonely, despaired, and when everything just seems empty, just look at the cross. Look at Jesus, our friend, who died for us. Look at the love he gave and continues to give us.
Despite the immensity of our dear friend’s love for us, we sometimes fall short in our response to his great love.
In some ways we are like Judas Iscariot who betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver. We betray the love of Jesus when we refuse to accept the love he has given us.
We betray the love of Jesus when we do not help our neighbors that are in need.
We betray the love of Jesus when we do not cherish and share the gifts he has given us.
Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
In our lives today, what are our “30 pieces of silver”?
In this society consumed by greed, our love for Jesus is sometimes bought by the “30 pieces of silver” present in different forms such as wealth, power, and extreme egoism.
As we come to the end of this Lenten season and approach the summit of the Liturgical Year, the Paschal Triduum, let us examine our friendship with Jesus.
Who is Jesus to me?
How was I a friend to Jesus?
Why did I betray him with my sinfulness?
Why does he continue to love me despite my shortcomings?
“THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE THAN
TO LAY DOWN ONE’S LIFE FOR ONE’S FRIENDS.”
That in all things, God may be glorified.
Today’s Gospel tells us of the conspiracy between Judas and the Sanhedrin in order to have Jesus arrested and questioned for his practices and preaching.
The Sanhedrin gave Judas 30 pieces of silver in exchange of betraying his friend and teacher. Jesus knew this. But he did not withdraw from his mission. Jesus taught us, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
The cross on which he was crucified and died is not a symbol of terror and violence. Jesus’ cross is a symbol of his unconditional love for all of us.
A friend once told me, “Remember this: Someone has already died for you.”
Yes we sometimes forget this fact. That we have a friend who gave up his life for us because of his unconditional love for us.
And so when we feel lonely, despaired, and when everything just seems empty, just look at the cross. Look at Jesus, our friend, who died for us. Look at the love he gave and continues to give us.
Despite the immensity of our dear friend’s love for us, we sometimes fall short in our response to his great love.
In some ways we are like Judas Iscariot who betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver. We betray the love of Jesus when we refuse to accept the love he has given us.
We betray the love of Jesus when we do not help our neighbors that are in need.
We betray the love of Jesus when we do not cherish and share the gifts he has given us.
Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
In our lives today, what are our “30 pieces of silver”?
In this society consumed by greed, our love for Jesus is sometimes bought by the “30 pieces of silver” present in different forms such as wealth, power, and extreme egoism.
As we come to the end of this Lenten season and approach the summit of the Liturgical Year, the Paschal Triduum, let us examine our friendship with Jesus.
Who is Jesus to me?
How was I a friend to Jesus?
Why did I betray him with my sinfulness?
Why does he continue to love me despite my shortcomings?
“THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE THAN
TO LAY DOWN ONE’S LIFE FOR ONE’S FRIENDS.”
That in all things, God may be glorified.