They paid him 30 pieces of silver
Published Apr 13, 2022 12:03 am
REFLECTIONS TODAY
Can human life be valued monetarily? In civil law, we know that cases involving involuntary manslaughter (not murder) are settled in the end by paying a sum of money to the family of the victim. But, of course, nobody thinks such a sum of money is the value or worth of the person’s life. Some people out of extreme need may “sell” themselves although not in order to be killed. But Judas’ act of handing Jesus over to the Jewish authorities for 30 pieces of silver underlines how the lure of money can make us do unthinkable things. Would you sell your “yaya” or your “tutor” or your closest friend? You squirm at the thought of it. But nowadays even parents “sell” their own children to internet predators. They may not be giving them over to be killed, but the damage they do to them is like “killing” their future, their dignity, and, therefore, it is real killing in the end, in terms of effect.
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 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.”
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
Can human life be valued monetarily? In civil law, we know that cases involving involuntary manslaughter (not murder) are settled in the end by paying a sum of money to the family of the victim. But, of course, nobody thinks such a sum of money is the value or worth of the person’s life. Some people out of extreme need may “sell” themselves although not in order to be killed. But Judas’ act of handing Jesus over to the Jewish authorities for 30 pieces of silver underlines how the lure of money can make us do unthinkable things. Would you sell your “yaya” or your “tutor” or your closest friend? You squirm at the thought of it. But nowadays even parents “sell” their own children to internet predators. They may not be giving them over to be killed, but the damage they do to them is like “killing” their future, their dignity, and, therefore, it is real killing in the end, in terms of effect.
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 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.”
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.