HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF HOLY WEEK (1)

HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF HOLY WEEK

THEME: JESUS WAS BETRAYED BY JUDAS ISCARIOT….. “Surely it is not I?”….. “Surely it is not I?”

BY: Fr. Higinio Rafael ROSOLEN IVE
(Cobourg, Ontario, Canada)

HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY APRIL 13 2022

Today, the Gospel presents us with three scenes: the betrayal of Judas, the preparations to celebrate the Passover and the Supper with the Twelve.

The word “deliver” (“paradidōmi” in Greek) is repeated six times and serves as a link between these three moments: (i) when Judas delivers Jesus; (ii) Passover, which is a figure of the sacrifice of the cross, where Jesus gives His life; and (iii) the Last Supper, in which the delivery of Jesus is manifested, which will be fulfilled on the Cross.

We want to stop here at the Paschal Supper, where Jesus Christ manifests that His body will be given and His blood shed. His words: “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me” (Mt 26:20) invite each of the Twelve, and especially Judas, to an examination of conscience. These words are extended to all of us, who have also been called by Jesus. They are an invitation to reflect on our actions, be they good or bad; our dignity; to ask ourselves what we are doing at this moment with our lives; where we are going and how we have responded to the call of Jesus. We must answer ourselves with sincerity, humility and frankness.

Let us remember that we can hide our sins from other people, but we cannot hide them from God, who sees in secret. Jesus, true God and man, sees and knows everything. He knows what is in our hearts and what we are capable of. Nothing is hidden from His eyes. Let us avoid deceiving ourselves, and it is only after we have been sincere with ourselves that we should look to Christ and ask Him, “Surely it is not I?” (Mt 26:22). Let us bear in mind what Pope Francis says: “Jesus loving us, invites us to allow ourselves to be reconciled with God and to return to Him to rediscover ourselves.”

Let us look at Jesus, listen to His words and ask for the grace to deliver ourselves by uniting ourselves to His sacrifice on the Cross.

Fr. Higinio Rafael ROSOLEN IVE
(Cobourg, Ontario, Canada)