Meditations for Holy Week: Wednesday 28 March
| Wed Mar 28 |
am: 55 pm: 74 |
Isa 50:4-9a, | Heb 12:1-3 | John 13:21-32 |
HOLY WEEK: Spy Wednesday
LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: According to tradition, the Wednesday before Easter is sometimes known as ‘Spy Wednesday’, as being the day that Judas Iscariot first conspired with the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus for thirty silver coins on this day in the West the liturgical options are for a communal either a Penance Service the Service of Tenebrae. The word Tenebrae comes from the Latin meaning darkness. In this service, all the candles on the altar table are gradually extinguished until the sanctuary is in complete darkness. At the moment of darkness, a loud clash occurs symbolizing the death of Jesus. While in the Eastern tradition a service of Anointing of the Sick (Holy Unction) is held on Spy Wednesday evening.
MEDITATION OF THE DAY: Few things do as much damage in our spirits as betrayal whether it is communal or personal. In espionage, thousands of lives can be effected, and perhaps even the whole course of the war can be changed, by the act of one well-placed traitor. In romance, a lover’s betrayal can bring great sadness, ruin, and even suicide. In business, someone sells a secret formula and the company can be destroyed.
How does this happen? Well most of us well know that it is our friends not our enemies who are in the best position to bring about our downfall. The friend has the knowledge, the experience, and the trust to accomplish what massive assaults by outsiders often can’t. This is what Jesus had to contend with on Spy Wednesday, knowing what Judas was off doing Why did he follow Christ? Did he, like the crowds, expect some great act from Jesus? Were his expectations as a disciple basking in Jesus’ greater glory left unfulfilled? Or was he, like so many of us, just an opportunist, ready to follow — and capitalize on — whatever wave of sentiment was sweeping among the people? Difficult Questions for all of us.
PRAYER OF THE DAY: O Lord Please help me this day as I struggle to see how I have betrayed you and caused the cross to be taken up. Please give me the grace to resist the temptation from the power of the one who wants only to destroy my love and trust in you. Help me to be humble and accepting who you are and not betray you because of who I want you to be. Save me, Lord. Only you can save me. Amen
Spy Wednesday Discipline – Today is the day to reach out and make amends in justice and compassion with those you have betrayed or wronged in thought, word or deed. Conversely, it also the day that those who are being engaged for reconciliation be open to it.
ANCIENT WORDS/FUTURE HOPE: “Do we justly execrate the deed of Judas, and does truth itself pronounce that by hanging himself he rather aggravated than expiated the guilt of that most iniquitous betrayal, since, by despairing of God’s mercy in his sorrow that wrought death, he left to himself no place for a healing penitence?” – St. Augustine
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