Daily Thoughts: Spy Wednesday,
(Isaiah 50: 4-9a and Matthew 26: 14-25), the day when we pause to remember
Judas’ actions many years ago. A companion, a friend of Jesus yet he allows the
forces of darkness, the forces of evil to become more a friend than Jesus.
We do not truly know what motivated
Judas. Was it his desire for money? Was it that he truly thought he would scare
Jesus into changing his approach to life? Was it that he saw Jesus as a
threat? Was it that he was angry with
Jesus? Had he been caught stealing money? Was he upset that Jesus challenged
him at Lazarus’ house? We just don’t know the motive.
What we do know is the Judas sold Jesus
out to the religious leadership. What we do know is that Judas could not admit
to Jesus what he was about to do. He could not tell the truth and that until
the end he continued to see himself as Jesus’ friend.
The Prophet Isaiah today reminds himself
of who his friend truly is, God. That no matter what happens God is there to
protect Isaiah in his ministry as prophet. It is not easy but Isaiah is
faithful to his ministry and God is faithful to Isaiah, helping him through the
struggle.
We encounter Isaiah’s words and in them
we see Jesus. We listen to Isaiah’s words and hear Jesus speaking. Jesus is the
servant who suffers, the servant who trusts in God, the servant who is
abandoned by everyone except by God.
The questions for today – Are we with
God or against God? Can we remain friends of Jesus or will the trappings of the
world cause us to betray him? Can we trust in God even in the midst of our own
struggles? It is often said that every person has her or his price, what is our
price?
Blessings to all on this Wednesday of
Holy Week!
Daily Prayer: At the name of
Jesus every knee must bend in heaven, on earth and under the earth and every
tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father! Loving
God, help us to always be faithful and may the gods of the world not temp us
into betraying our friendship with you. Grace us with the strength to always
trust in your presence especially when we struggle. Help us to keep hope and
joy alive through your word and sacrament! Amen!
A Runner’s Thoughts: If, in running
we desire is to connect with God, to pray, then that is what we are doing.
Keeping that desire at the forefront of our thoughts and remaining conscious of
our intent is very important. Remember seek God and you will find God in every
good thing!
Daily Blessing: Greetings and
blessings to everyone on this Spy Wednesday and welcome to April! I hope you
are having a good day and that you have not been caught in an April Fool’s joke
so far today. The sun is out here in Pelham though the temperature at this time
is a little on the cool side. I think it is supposed to getting a little warmer
over the next two days. May the sun warm you up as you journey through you day!
I am making my final preparations today
for the next three days ahead of me. As I have already mentioned I will be
preaching the Triduum there Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday at Our
Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Pelham Manor. Tomorrow I will be preaching the
7:30 pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper, then on Good Friday I will preach the 3:00
pm Service of the Lord’s Passion and on Holy Saturday I will preach the Easter
Vigil beginning at 7:30 pm. So if you happen to be in the area come and
celebrate with us.
Hopefully your day, today, will be
filled with God’s many blessings and as I have said all week so far, I pray
that you will take some time to enter into the holiness of these next few days.
If not, if you are busy, please know that as I journey through them you will be
held in my prayers. May prayer of blessing today is that God will bless you
with the trust, the faith, the hope, the love and the joy to never give up on
your relationship with God. That you will always know even in the midst of your
struggles that God is always with you and that God will never leave you to face
life alone! Have a blessed day. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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