Daily Catholic Lectio
Wednesday, 27 March 2024
Wednesday of the Holy Week
Isaiah 50:4-9. John 26:14-25
Is it I, Rabbi?
Today’s gospel reading is focused on Judas Iscariot, a man (apostle) who betrayed Jesus. What is the meaning of his name? ‘Juda’ or ‘Judas’ or ‘Jude’ is his name. In order to differentiate him from Jude Thaddeus, the gospel writers add the epithet ‘Iscariot’ which could have any one of the following meanings: (a) ‘Man from Kerioth’, (b) ‘Man with sword, of the group of Zealots,’ (c) ‘liar’ or ‘false one’, (d) ‘one who delivers,’ and (e) ‘one who is constrained or choked.’
To the question of why Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, the scholars propose three possible answers:
(a) He betrayed Jesus for money, i.e., for 30 silver coins. But if money was Judas’ prime concern, when he saw Jesus being humiliated in the Sanhedrin, why did he attempt to return the money to the chief priests, and when money was not taken back, why did he throw the money?
(b) Judas misunderstood Jesus. Judas expected that Jesus would become a kingly or political messiah. But Jesus, from the beginning, presented himself as a spiritual messiah. Judas’ disappointment became anger, and anger led him to betray Jesus. This reason is also questioned because there are no instances in the Bible where Judas shows any animosity towards Jesus.
(c) Judas saw Jesus being slow in his ministry. He wanted everything to be quick. He wanted to accelerate Jesus’ messianic movement. When Judas saw Jesus as a crowd-puller, he presumed that with this crowd he could overthrow the Romans, who ruled Judea. When Judas witnessed people singing ‘Hosanna’ he was sure that the hour had come. But, later, when the crowd turned to shout, ‘crucify him!’ Judas feels himself like a house of cards totally blown. He wanted to end what he had begun. He wanted to undo the evil that he unleashed. But it was late. His attempts to reset the clock became failures. Being in despair, he kills himself without having the courage to look at his ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master.’ This reason is mostly accepted today.
About Judas, Jesus says, ‘it would be better for him if he had not been born!’ This is a kind of malediction.
Things in life are often contrary to our expectations. We feel powerless to control the uncertainties of life. We feel vulnerable, like Judas, when things go beyond control; we yield to despair.
In today’s gospel reading, taken from Matthew, when Jesus says, ‘one of you will betray me,’ the apostles ask, ‘Is it I, Lord?’ But Judas asks, ‘Is it I, Rabbi?’ ‘Rabbi’ means ‘Teacher.’ Jesus responds to Judas alone, saying, ‘You have said so.’
Judas could see Jesus as nothing but Teacher. He failed to see beyond. He misunderstood Jesus from the beginning. In the literary context of Matthew, we need to also inform ourselves that Matthew never allows the enemies of Jesus to call him ‘Lord’ or ‘Master.’
In the first reading, we heard from the Third Song of the Servant (Isa 50:4-9). The song puts forward three characteristics of the Servant: (a) Skilled in God’s word (50:4); (b) Submissive to God’s will (50:5-6); and (c) Secure in God’s help (50:7-9).
Jesus is the Servant whom the Song prefigures. Jesus preached the Word of God; he submitted himself to God’s will; and he was always sure that his Father was with him.
Judas, in his hard-heartedness, misunderstanding, expectations, or because of God’s will, calls Jesus ‘Teacher.’
Who is Jesus to us? How do we address him?
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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