Thirty pieces of silver
REFLECTIONS TODAY
Matthew reports that Judas received 30 pieces of silver for having betrayed Jesus. A quick look at Google would tell us the modern equivalent of “30 pieces of silver”: about five weeks money (based on a six-day working week). The meaning is more profound than the actual value: the price of a gored slave (Ex 21:32) or the wage of an underpaid shepherd (Zec 11:12).
Jesus is given so little value even in his betrayal! But the most painful thing about this betrayal is not about the 30 silver pieces. We can see this pain in the verse: “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me” (v 23)—one with whom I have shared food; one who is my friend and disciple.
The Lord is betrayed by a friend and disciple. The eve of the most important days in the year ends with a situation so grave and disheartening, a story relived when we live out our own stories of betrayal.
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 30 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: “366 Days with the Lord 2024,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.