Holy Wednesday or Spy Wednesday, is the Wednesday that precedes the greatest feast in the liturgical calendar of the Church, the Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection. It is the fourth day of Holy Week after Palm Sunday, Holy Monday, and Tuesday.
In the Gospel reading for today, it narrates how Judas betrayed Jesus. Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for Him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with Him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
Then Judas the Iscariot, one of His disciples said, “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?” He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”
The large crowd of the Jews found out that He was there and came not only because of Him, but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead, and the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus, too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him.
Now the festival of the Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve. He went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money – 30 pieces of silver. He consented and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.
Money is the truly the root of all evil. As human beings, we might fall into this kind of sinful pleasure. We must hold on to God, and pray to be guided. The sacrament of reconciliation invites us to be open to God, and receive God’s pardon and spiritual healing.
Have a meaningful journey with Jesus. God bless you.