＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Isaiah 50: 4-9a

The Lord Yahweh has taught me

so I speak as his disciple and I know how to sustain the weary. Morning after morning he wakes me up to hear, to listen like a disciple. The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear. I have not rebelled, nor have I withdrawn.  I offered my back to those who strike me, my cheeks to those who pulled my beard; neither did I shield my face from blows, spittle and disgrace.

 I have not despaired, for the Lord Yahweh comes to my help. So, like a flint I set my face, knowing that I will not be disgraced. He who avenges me is near. Who then will accuse me? Let us confront each other. Who is now my accuser? Let him approach. If the Lord Yahweh is my help. who will condemn me? All of them will wear out like cloth;

 

Ps 69: 8-10, 21-22, 31 & 33-34

Lord, in your great love, answer me.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 26: 14-25

Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went off to the chief priests and said,   “How much will you give me if I hand him over to you?” They promised to give him thirty pieces of silver, 16 and from then on he kept looking for the best way to hand him over to them.

 On the first day of the Festival of the Un­leavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?”   Jesus answered, “Go into the city, to the house of a certain man, and tell him: ‘The Master says: My hour is near, and I will celebrate the Pass­over with my disciples in your house.”

 The disciples did as Jesus had ordered and prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, Jesus sat at table with the Twelve.  While they were eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you: one of you will betray me.”   They were deeply distressed and asked him in turn, “You do not mean me, do you, Lord?”

 He answered, “He who will betray me is one of those who dips his bread in the dish with me.   The Son of Man is going as the Scriptures say he will. But alas for that one who betrays the Son of Man; better for him not to have been born.”  Judas, who was betraying him, also asked, “You do not mean me, Master, do you?” Jesus replied, “You have said it.”

 

Gospel Reflection：

As Jesus’ impeding suffering and see the drama begin to unfold. Judas puts into effect his plan of betraying his master and friend, and Jesus attends to the details of the coming Passover meal he must celebrate with his disciples. Meanwhile, the reading from Isaiah speaks in an almost oddly calm way about the suffering that one is about to endure.

Even the exchange between Jesus and Judas exhibits a rather strangle calmness – like facts are simply being stated, with no fanfare, no bombast, just a plain stating of what is about to come. Contrast this with the “distress” of the disciples and what we have is very interesting juxtaposition of the calmness of Jesus on the one hand, and anxiety of the disciples on the other.

As the story of Holy Week unfolds, even death proves to be no match for the power of God. This does not do away with the storms of life, nor the problems life brings, nor the difficulties and challenges of daily living. No one escapes them. But anchored firmly in the knowledge of God’s abiding love, no torment can ever touch us.