Daily Inspiration

“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.” —Matthew 26:14-25

This week, more than any other time of the year, we should try to separate ourselves from the timeline of this worldly place and view the world from the Father’s perspective. The eyes of the Creator see the Son about to enter into the salvation of the Passion, while at the same moment His gaze is set upon you, His child. As Holy Week progresses, we must try to see from His divine viewpoint.

Do we prepare for the coming meal and the institution of the priesthood and Eucharist? Do we dread the approaching bitter betrayal, scourging, and carrying of the Cross? Do our hearts sink as we await the Christ hanging from His bloody Cross? Do we prepare ourselves to be with the Pascal Lamb, or do we sneak away focused on this earthly life? Through the grace of God, the wise choose this week to carry their cross with Christ as He carries the Cross to Calvary.