THE LORD GOD HELPS ME…

Isaiah 50:4-9

4 The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him that is weary. Morning by morning he wakens, he wakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.5 The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I turned not backward.
6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I hid not my face from shame and spitting.7 For the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been confounded; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame;
8 he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me.9 Behold, the Lord GOD helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.

Matthew 26:14-25

14 Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.
17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the passover?”18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain one, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at your house with my disciples.'”
19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the passover. 20 When it was evening, he sat at table with the twelve disciples;
21 and as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they were very sorrowful, and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?”
23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me, will betray me.
24 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.” 25 Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Is it I, Master?” He said to him, “You have said so.”  

MEDITATION

ISAIAH THE PROPHET Describe the countenance and demeanor of one, an obedient servant of God who finds himself in a tense place. This servant is calm, fearless despite the eminence of danger that filled the air, because he has placed his trust in the Lord. 

St MATTHEW preamble his narrative by describing Judas Iscariots secret negotiation with the chief priests to contextualize the discourse that played out in the Upper Room, when Jesus publicly alleged that one of the twelve was to betray Him! The festive celebratory atmosphere became tense when Jesus noted that it would have been better if His would be betrayer was never conceived! One by one all the Apostles redirected their response to the Lord, by answering His question with a question to avoid incriminating themselves.

To be sure, the Supernatural Pascal event was a groundbreaking moment of grace that oppertuned Judas to seek Gods help—repent and come clean—but alas, so poisoned was he that he squandered an opportunity to have his name etched in the hearts of future believers! We are called to be unlike Judas, who for all intends and purposes was not saved,  because he partook of the Lords Supper in an unworthy state (1 Cor 11:28-31), whilst he planned to execute his subversive act against the Son of God. May the Lord help us and deliver us from evil.

LET US PRAY: Psalms 69:8-10,21-22,31
8 I have become a stranger to my brethren, an alien to my mother’s sons.
9 For zeal for thy house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult thee have fallen on me.10 When I humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach.
21 They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
22 Let their own table before them become a snare; let their sacrificial feasts be a trap.
31 This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.
33 For the LORD hears the needy, and does not despise his own that are in bonds. 34 Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves therein.

Commentary. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days.