1 Minute Gospel. Is it me, Lord?

Reading

14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”

23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”

Jesus answered, “You have said so.”

Comment

The feast of the Passover, which celebrates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt, is approaching and Judas' greed leads him to consummate his betrayal. The thirty silver coins required of the high priests recall the price established by the Law for the rejected shepherd (Zk 11:12) and the compensation to be paid to the master whose slave was struck with the horns by an ox (Ex 21 , 32).

The "first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread" indicates the beginning of the week of Easter, when only unleavened bread is allowed to be eaten. On the occasion of the feast, many residents of Jerusalem rented rooms to pilgrims to celebrate the Passover meal.

Jesus also asks his disciples to prepare the Passover in a private home; he thus sends them to "a man" (v. 18) to ask him to be allowed to celebrate Easter at his house. Today we could be that very person, in receiving a particular call to share the mystery of the passion of Jesus, the delivery of him (Gr. Paradidotai) into the hands of men, the radical gift of himself.

According to what John reported (Jn 13:1), the supper celebrated by Jesus took place before Easter; this explains the absence of the lamb. Jesus is betrayed by those who outwardly show an intimate communion with him, dipping his hand in the same dish (v. 23) and calling him "Master" (Rabbi; v. 25). The first to have to guard against the danger of betraying Jesus and the gospel is precisely his disciples and ecclesiastical institutions. We are all called to examine our conscience and ask ourselves "Is it me, Lord?" (v. 22).

Not only would it be less bad to never have known Jesus than to betray him, but it would be better to never have been born (v. 24). Whoever betrays Christ, in fact, loses the way that leads to salvation, renounces the truth that sets free, deprives himself of an existence lived in fullness; he betrays love; ultimately, he betrays himself.

Prayer

May your Spirit enlighten us, o Lord, so that we may be ready to open the door of our heart to you when you come to celebrate your holy mysteries. Amen.

- Rev. Dr. Luca Vona