At the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven, on earth and below the earth, for the Lord became obedient until death, even death on a cross.

 

At the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven, on earth and below the earth, for the Lord became obedient until death, even death on a cross. And that is why Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil 2,10.8.11).

On the eve of the Easter Triduum, we are confronted with Judas' betrayal. The Eucharist gives us strength to always cultivate a sincere and transparent relationship with the Lord and with people. First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9 Reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah – 4The Lord God gave me a trained tongue, so that I may know how to speak words of comfort to the downcast person; He awakens me every morning and stirs my ear to pay attention like a disciple. 5The Lord has opened my ears; I didn't resist him or turn back. 6I offered my back to be beaten and my cheeks to pluck my beard: I did not turn my face away from slaps and spit. 7But the Lord God is my helper, so I did not allow myself to be discouraged, I kept my face as impassive as stone, because I know that I will not be humiliated. 8At my side is the one who justifies me; Will anyone object to me? Let's see. Who is my opponent? Come closer. 9Yes, the Lord God is my helper; who is going to condemn me? - Word of the Lord. Responsorial Psalm: 68(69) Answer me, for your immense love, / in this favorable time, Lord God. 1. It is because of you that I have suffered so many insults, / and my face has been covered with confusion; / I have become like a stranger to my brothers, / like a stranger to my mother's children. / For my zeal and my love for your house / devour me like a scorching fire; / and the insults of infidels who outrage you / all of them fell on me! – R. 2. The insult broke my heart. † I waited for someone to take pity on me; / I looked for someone to relieve me and I couldn't find it! / They gave me gall as if it were food, / in my thirst they offered me vinegar! – R. 3. Singing, I will praise your name / and, grateful, I will exult with joy! / Humble ones, see this and rejoice: † your heart will revive / if you continually seek the Lord! / For our God answers the prayers of his poor / and does not despise the cry of his captives. – R. Gospel: Matthew 26,14-25 Hail, Christ, light of life, / companion in sharing! Hail, our King, only you / have compassion for our mistakes. – R. Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew – At that time, 14one of the twelve disciples, called Judas Iscariot, went to the high priests 15and said: “What will you give me if I hand Jesus over to you?” They then agreed on thirty silver coins. 16And from then on, Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus. 17On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Food, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare to eat the Passover?” 18Jesus replied: “Go to the city, look for a certain man and say to him: ‘The teacher says: My time is near, I will celebrate the Passover in your house, together with my disciples'”. 19The disciples did as Jesus commanded and prepared the Passover. 20As evening approached, Jesus sat down at table with the twelve disciples. 21While they were eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22They were very sad and, one by one, they began to ask him, “Lord, is it me?” 23Jesus replied, “The one who will betray me is the one who puts his hand in the dish with me. 24The Son of Man will die, as the Scripture says about him. However, woe to him who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better if he had never been born!” 25Then Judas, the traitor, asked, “Teacher, is it me?” Jesus answered him: “You say so”. – Word of salvation. Reflection: After Jesus, the center of the narrative, Judas Iscariot stands out, albeit for a dishonorable reason, betrayal. As is done with real estate, land, cattle and utensils of various kinds, Jesus is being traded for an irrelevant sum of thirty coins. Shame on Judas, who betrays his Master; Shame on the high priests, who pay for the victim they are going to sacrifice. While Jesus celebrates Easter with his disciples, the festival of liberation, Judas plots his capture. Jesus knows and controls the situation: he is the one who points out the traitor. There is a name here, but it can refer to anyone who, instead of choosing Jesus' project, with its consequences, chooses the idol of riches. Jesus' time is near. It is the hour of his passion, death and resurrection, the culmination of redemption.

At the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven, on earth and below the earth, for the Lord became obedient until death, even death on a cross. And that is why Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil 2,10.8.11).

On the eve of the Easter Triduum, we are confronted with Judas' betrayal. The Eucharist gives us strength to always cultivate a sincere and transparent relationship with the Lord and with people. First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9 Reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah – 4The Lord God gave me a trained tongue, so that I may know how to speak words of comfort to the downcast person; He awakens me every morning and stirs my ear to pay attention like a disciple. 5The Lord has opened my ears; I didn't resist him or turn back. 6I offered my back to be beaten and my cheeks to pluck my beard: I did not turn my face away from slaps and spit. 7But the Lord God is my helper, so I did not allow myself to be discouraged, I kept my face as impassive as stone, because I know that I will not be humiliated. 8At my side is the one who justifies me; Will anyone object to me? Let's see. Who is my opponent? Come closer. 9Yes, the Lord God is my helper; who is going to condemn me? - Word of the Lord. Responsorial Psalm: 68(69) Answer me, for your immense love, / in this favorable time, Lord God. 1. It is because of you that I have suffered so many insults, / and my face has been covered with confusion; / I have become like a stranger to my brothers, / like a stranger to my mother's children. / For my zeal and my love for your house / devour me like a scorching fire; / and the insults of infidels who outrage you / all of them fell on me! – R. 2. The insult broke my heart. † I waited for someone to take pity on me; / I looked for someone to relieve me and I couldn't find it! / They gave me gall as if it were food, / in my thirst they offered me vinegar! – R. 3. Singing, I will praise your name / and, grateful, I will exult with joy! / Humble ones, see this and rejoice: † your heart will revive / if you continually seek the Lord! / For our God answers the prayers of his poor / and does not despise the cry of his captives. – R. Gospel: Matthew 26,14-25 Hail, Christ, light of life, / companion in sharing! Hail, our King, only you / have compassion for our mistakes. – R. Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew – At that time, 14one of the twelve disciples, called Judas Iscariot, went to the high priests 15and said: “What will you give me if I hand Jesus over to you?” They then agreed on thirty silver coins. 16And from then on, Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus. 17On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Food, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare to eat the Passover?” 18Jesus replied: “Go to the city, look for a certain man and say to him: ‘The teacher says: My time is near, I will celebrate the Passover in your house, together with my disciples'”. 19The disciples did as Jesus commanded and prepared the Passover. 20As evening approached, Jesus sat down at table with the twelve disciples. 21While they were eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22They were very sad and, one by one, they began to ask him, “Lord, is it me?” 23Jesus replied, “The one who will betray me is the one who puts his hand in the dish with me. 24The Son of Man will die, as the Scripture says about him. However, woe to him who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better if he had never been born!” 25Then Judas, the traitor, asked, “Teacher, is it me?” Jesus answered him: “You say so”. – Word of salvation. Reflection: After Jesus, the center of the narrative, Judas Iscariot stands out, albeit for a dishonorable reason, betrayal. As is done with real estate, land, cattle and utensils of various kinds, Jesus is being traded for an irrelevant sum of thirty coins. Shame on Judas, who betrays his Master; Shame on the high priests, who pay for the victim they are going to sacrifice. While Jesus celebrates Easter with his disciples, the festival of liberation, Judas plots his capture. Jesus knows and controls the situation: he is the one who points out the traitor. There is a name here, but it can refer to anyone who, instead of choosing Jesus' project, with its consequences, chooses the idol of riches. Jesus' time is near. It is the hour of his passion, death and resurrection, the culmination of redemption.