REFLECTIONS TODAY
The Gospel reading tells us that Judas is at the Passover supper. Jesus predicts the betrayal of Judas, giving the sign of a hand dipping into the dish. But this is before the Eucharist; Jesus has still to take and bless the bread and the cup. Will Judas be still around by then?
No Gospel account specifically describes Judas receiving the bread/body and the wine/blood.
In John, Jesus hands the dipped morsel and gives it to Judas, and immediately Satan enters Judas (13:26-27). But John does not describe the Eucharist at the supper, so nothing can be made of the morsel given to Judas. And then, would Jesus’ body be an instrument of condemnation or curse? Some point to Paul’s warning about eating the bread or drinking the cup of the Lord unworthily. This invites judgment on oneself (1 Cor 11:29-30). Would Christians detect in Paul’s general admonition a remembrance of Judas who ate unworthily and soon died, violently at that? Much as we would like to go deeper into the question about Judas’ participation in the Eucharist, our answers would be, at best, guesswork.
GOSPEL • MATTHEW 26:14-25
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 the 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.”
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