MEA CULPA
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“Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.” – Matthew 26:25
“It shook me so much — not that it was so hard, but that it was so easy.” The topic? Lying. Corrie ten Boom
wrote similar words in her book The Hiding Place, her family’s World War II experience of how they hid Jews
and was later incarcerated by the Nazis.
Hers was a difficult and different circumstance so I won’t dwell on that. I’m thinking rather of how easy I find it
to excuse myself of my own failings, but could be very hard and judgmental about others’. Which is also a
form of lying. It reminds me of Judas in today’s verse saying, “Surely it is not I,
Rabbi?” Such innocence while conveniently forgetting his own plans to betray Jesus. On this Wednesday of
the Holy Week, let us remember that we have something in common with Judas: we have betrayed our Lord
in one way or another — for pleasure, for money, for ambition, for a little “me” time. Let us not add to that
kinship by denying our sinfulness.
Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. My own fault, my own fault, my own grievous fault. Joy Sosoban
(jsosoban@gmail.com)
REFLECTION:
“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than
you want to pay.” (Anonymous)
You are just, O Lord, in Your judgment. Have mercy on me, a sinner.
1st READING
The Third Servant Song of Isaiah tells us of a man of God who speaks with the words and authority of God
and who is not afraid of suffering for the truth. We live in a world that cares little for the truth most of the time
as people seek to advance themselves and their ideas without regard for the well-being of others.
Christians need to turn this sort of attitude around by proclaiming the truth that it is not our will that matters
but the will of God.
Isaiah 50:4-9a
4 The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that
will rouse them. Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear; 5 and I have not rebelled, have not
turned back. 6 I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I
did not shield from buffets and spitting. 7 The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set
my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame. 8 He is near who upholds my right; if anyone
wishes to oppose me, let us appear together. Who disputes my right? Let him confront me. 9 See, the Lord
GOD is my help; who will prove me wrong?
P S A L M
Psalm 69:8-10, 21-22, 31, 33-34
R: Lord, in your great love, answer me.
7 [8] For your sake I bear insult, and shame covers my face. 8 [9] I have become an outcast to my brothers, a
stranger to my mother’s sons, 9 [10] because zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those
who blaspheme you fall upon me. (R) 20 [21] Insult has broken my heart, and I am weak, I looked for
sympathy, but there was none; for consolers, not one could I find. 21 [22] Rather they put gall in my food, and
in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. (R) 30 [31] I will praise the name of God in song, and I will glorify
him with thanksgiving 32 [33] “See, you lowly ones, and be glad; you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
33 [34] For the LORD hears the poor, and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.” (R)
G O S P E L
Jesus knows that He is going to be betrayed by one of His own. Any man in His right mind would seek to
stop it, don’t you think? Jesus did not! Why? He knows the will of His Father; He trusts the love of His Father
and knows that whatever happens He will be vindicated. It does not matter to Jesus what people think or do.
What matters is that He is faithful to His commitment of obedience to the will of God, His Father.
Matthew 26:14-25
14 One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What are you
willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, 16 and from that time on he
looked for an opportunity to hand him over. 17 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?” 18
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.” ’ ” 19 The disciples then did as Jesus had
ordered, and prepared the Passover. 20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. 21 And
while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 Deeply distressed at this,
they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” 23 He said in reply, “He who has dipped
his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. 24 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.” 25 Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You
have said so.”
God Knows Us Deep Inside
This day is traditionally called “Spy Wednesday” since the Gospel reading commemorates Judas Iscariot’s
treachery against Jesus, His Master. The narrative of the event reveals to us that Jesus knew all that was
happening inside the heart and mind of Judas. He warned the disciples about the impending betrayal and
even gave a hint to Judas that He knew about the disciple’s evil scheme. However, the Almighty God that He
is, Jesus did not move a finger to prevent the betrayal of Judas. He did not do anything to hinder the
consummation of the evil plan.
Here, Jesus shows us how the Divine deals with us, His creatures. God knows all — even the remotest
possibilities and consequences of our actions. Out of His great love, He does everything to warn us, to open
our awareness of dangers. At times, He even works out events around us that could serve as forebodings of
things to come. He writes His “memos” through a preponderance of situations that could serve as hints for
us. Even in the most ordinary cases, He works through the voice of our consciences. Out of His great love
and respect for us as creatures of intelligence, however, God leaves us to make our study and our choice,
with the hope that the intelligence, conscience and freedom He has gifted us with will illuminate our minds
and hearts.
Our prayers should then be useful for us to dispose us to listen and to be sensitive and responsive to God’s
signs and forebodings. Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP
Reflection Question:
Do you often blame God for wrong turns and results in your life? What is Jesus telling you now through today’
s Good News? Have you also done your own study and prayer in each decision that you made? Have you
used wisely the intelligence and have you used responsibly the freedom you enjoy?
Thank You, Lord, for giving me the gift of free will. May I always choose the way that will lead me closer to You.
St. Benjamin, pray for us.
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