Reflection for Friday 12 March 2021

Reading : Matthew 26:14-16

“They paid Judas thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him”

Thirty pieces of silver.

That’s all it took for Judas to betray the one who had washed his feet, whom he’d witnessed heal, feed and tend the neediest of people. He’d heard Jesus teach about loving enemies and forgiving seventy times seven.

Was it the money that motivated Judas to turn on Jesus?

We will never know, all we are told was that having taken the money, he looked for an opportunity to betray the Son of God.

We do know however, that Judas would come to regret his actions.

We know that he tried to return the money, and after this was rejected, so consumed by guilt was he, that he took his own life.

We cannot imagine ourselves acting the way Judas did....................but I wonder if there are times when we are tempted to “sell our soul” for a quick reward?

During Lent we have an opportunity to invest in that which the moth cannot destroy or the thief steal.

We also have the opportunity to remember the good news which is for Judas and for each one of us that Jesus came to save sinners.

He forgives those who betray him, and knows full well the regrets we have.

POINTS TO PONDER

WHILE WE MAY NOT COME CLOSE TO JUDAS’ ACT OF BETRAYAL, IN WHAT WAYS ARE YOU TEMPTED TO EXCHANGE YOUR INTEGRITY FOR MUCH LESS VALUABLE COMMODITIES?

WHAT ACTS HAVE YOU COMMITTED THAT YOU DEEPLY REGRET?

TAKE SOME TIME TO MAKE AMENDS AS YOU ARE ABLE AND ASK GOD FOR FORGIVENESS, KNOWING GOD IS MERCIFUL?

PRAYER

We are not Judas, God. We would never betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.

We would never deny him either. At least this is what we tell ourselves.

Yet, when we are honest with ourselves, we know that is not entirely true.

Forgive us, and help us to recognise what it truly valuable and live our lives accordingly.

Amen.