Within Holy Week we encounter the stark reality of betrayal. We confront a dark mystery: Jesus is brought to death not by his enemies but by one of his closest friends. Judas comes to this horrible decision during Holy Week and spends Wednesday spying on Jesus and seeking the opportunity to betray him, hence the name of “Spy Wednesday.”
It’s easy to point the finger at Judas. How could one of the twelve betray Jesus? And yet, he reminds us that we too betray Christ through our sins. We claim to be Christians, followers of Jesus, although we too turn against him for material things. We too caused the death of Jesus through the betrayal of our sins.
On Holy Thursday, Byzantine Catholics sing a troparion hymn:
When the glorious disciples were enlightened at the washing of their feet
before the supper,
Then the impious Judas was darkened, ailing with avarice,
and to the lawless judges he betrays Thee, the righteous Judge.
Behold, O lover of money, this man who because of money hanged himself.
Flee from the greedy soul which dared such things against the Master.
O Lord who art good towards all men, glory to Thee!
This is a warning for us. We must stop putting material things before Jesus and place ourselves before the mercy of Christ, confessing our sins like the good thief to the one who gave himself for our salvation.
Are you looking for a way to enter more deeply into Holy Week this year? Join thousands of men around the world for the final 7 days of Lent and finish Lent strong: Click here to start now!
Dr. Staudt holds a Ph.D. in systematic theology from Ave Maria University and B.A. and M.A. in Catholic Studies from the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN). He serves as Director of Content for Exodus and as Visiting Associate Professor at the Augustine Institute in Denver. He was previously the Associate Superintendent for the Archdiocese of Denver. He has founded a Catholic school and served as a DRE in two parishes and as Director of Catholic Studies at the University of Mary. He is the author of How the Eucharist Can Save Civilization (TAN), Restoring Humanity: Essays on the Evangelization of Culture (Divine Providence Press) and The Beer Option: Brewing a Catholic Culture Yesterday & Today (Angelico Press). His editing experience includes six years as the managing editor of the journal Nova et Vetera and the books Renewing Catholic Schools: How to Regain a Catholic Vision in a Secular Age (Catholic Education Press) and The University and the Church: Don J. Briel’s Essays on Education (Cluny Media).
