WEDNESDAY, HOLY WEEK
Is 50: 4-9 Ps 69: 8-10,21-22,31,33-34 Mt 26: 14-25
LOVING JUDAS
Holy Week invites us into the heart of God’s love, a love so profound that it embraces even the unlovable. It is easy to love those who are good, kind, and righteous; that is, those who reflect the goodness of Jesus. But the true challenge of Christianity lies not in loving “Jesus,” but in loving “Judas.” St. Thérèse of Lisieux once said, “True charity consists in bearing all our neighbours’ defects – not being surprised at their weakness but edified at their smallest virtues.” This is the essence of the new commandment: to love as Christ loved, without measure, distinction, or condition!
God’s love is universal and impartial: “He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Mt 5:45). This divine love is the standard set for us, especially during Holy Week. St. Paul marvels at this love, saying, “Rarely will anyone die for a righteous person… but God proves His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:7-8). Jesus loved Judas, knowing full well the betrayal that was to take place. He called him ‘friend,’ washed his feet, and shared bread with him at the Last Supper. But Judas betrayed his Master for a mere 30 silver coins.
There are “Jesus-es” and “Judas-es” in our lives too! Jesus teaches us that our love must extend to the “Judas-es” as much as to the “Jesus-es”! The “Jesus-es” are those who inspire, help, and support us, while the “Judas-es” are those who hurt, offend, or stand against us. Loving the “Jesus-es” is natural; loving the “Judas-es” is divine. To love them requires prayer, for only through God’s grace can we forgive and extend kindness to those who wound us. As the Carmelite St. John of the Cross teaches us: “In the evening of life, we will be judged on love alone,” the Holy Week too calls us to look inward and ask: Can we truly love our “Judas-es”?
Response: In your great mercy, answer me, O Lord, for a time of your favour.
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