March 31, 2010
Wednesday of Holy Week
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; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back. Isaiah 50:4-5
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. Matthew 26:21-23
Piety
Thank you, God, for all that you have given to me. I pray that you will give me the strength to use these gifts, day by day, to help build up your kingdom by speaking to the weary, praying with the outcasts, and loving the stranger and those who hate me. Amen.
Study
“Surely it is not I, Lord.”
Despite our sins, the Lord continues to forgive us and ask us to hold up our side of the covenant. He will always be our God whether or not we turn our back on Him. He will always be our God whether or not we deny Him. He will always be our God whether or not we betray him.
For inspiration, we certainly have poets and philosophers who write grand things about God. However, as Rachel Manteuffel noted in her article last week in the Post, God also chose normal sinners to inspire us. Of her visit to Holy Cross Abbey, she wrote:
David's son Absalom turned against him and was killed. Yet David wrote some of the most beautiful psalms, the ones about being lovingly cared for. Also some of the whiniest. I deeply respect that about God, that he chooses anti-heroes, people who have lost much, cynics. It makes me hope he has a place in the palm of his hand for ironists, the immature, the somewhat snide, the ones who can't help but laugh at bits of religion. Me.
As that fateful Passover seder convenes, we find gathering around the table disciples like John who loved Christ. We also find Peter who would deny Christ before taking over leadership of this movement. And we also find Judas who conspired in the ultimate betrayal. Which one will we be?
“Surely it is not I, Lord.”
Action
As our Lenten journey comes to a close, reflect back over the next 24 hours and assess what you planned to do at the outset of this holy season. How did you do? How will you continue that journey of prayer, study and action throughout the year?
