For every day during Lent, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click HERE for the readings.
Yesterday we read the story of the betrayal of Judas in the Gospel of John. Today we read the same story from the perspective of the Gospel of Matthew. There is a line in Matthew’s Gospel that does not appear in John’s: “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me.” All of the apostles at the Last Supper had dipped their hand into the common dish of the Passover with Jesus at some point. Yet, the betrayal of Judas is the gravest. Jesus even says that it would be better for Judas had he never been born.
As we approach the Eucharist, we dip our hand into the dish of the Body and Blood of Christ. We remember that we are imperfect, sinful, and unfaithful followers of Jesus. That is why we pray from the heart at every Eucharist, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof. But only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”
May the healing of Jesus never be rejected by any of us, as it was by Judas. His pain became unbearable. If we reject the mercy of Christ, then Jesus is correct, it is better that we were never born. Let us open our hearts to receive Jesus once again into our lives.