The Gospel According to Matthew 26:14-25
Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over. On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The teacher says, “My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”’” The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered and prepared the Passover. When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.”
Reflection: A different narrative.
Dear friends:
A horrible thing happened,
I found out this morning that Jesus was arrested last night. They beat him and took him to see Caiaphas and from there to Pilate. He is there right now and they are asking to have him crucified.
I don’t get it. Last night was so beautiful. First Jesus washes everyone’s feet including mine. Peter as always makes a remark about not being worthy to have his feet washed by Jesus and Jesus tells Him “Unless I wash your feet you cannot have my inheritance”. So, Peter asks him to wash not only his feet but his whole body.
Anyway, we celebrated the Passover and while we were celebrating Jesus took the bread offered it up to the Father and said,” This is my body.” Then he takes the cup of wine blessed it and said, “This is my blood.”
Just then I noticed something else strange,
Judas, right in the middle of dinner, gets up and leaves.
Jesus said something about be handed over and that someone would betray him. Peter again, has to blurt out something. (you know sometimes he can be annoying and sometimes he has something good to say)
Anyway, Peter said that he would die before he would let anything happen to Jesus. Then Jesus tells him that before the Rooster crows twice Peter would deny him three times.
I was surprised to hear Jesus say that knowing how much Peter loves him he would do anything for him.
All that commotion bothered me. It wasn’t like the other times we spent with Jesus. It bothered me so much I had to go That’s when he and his apostles went out to the garden.
You know, the garden Gethsemene, the garden that Jesus loves, he always goes and prays there.
While they were all in the garden Judas comes back with the temple soldiers and kisses Jesus on the cheek and then the soldiers beat him and took him away.
I don’t know if his mother Mary knows I’m on my way now to let her know.
Action of the Day: I’ve got to go now, I hear the Rooster crowing. Start praying, I’ll let you know if I hear anything else.
Thanks to Manny for sharing this with me a long time ago!
Audio Reflection:
