Handed Over | September 24, 2016

September 24, 2016

Today we have another short but poignant gospel to ponder in our hearts. The thing that makes betrayal so offensive is that it must be done by someone on the inside, meaning within one’s circle of trust. Anything done from the outside in is considered bullying or war which is enemy driven. Betrayal is when those in a covenant, intimate, close trusting relationship turn on the other and the consequences are usually severe because the betrayer knows the betrayed person’s vulnerabilities. Judas, while not necessarily Jesus’ favorite apostle, was most definitely on the inside and knew things about Jesus that were reserved for only a select few. What makes a circle of trust is that what is shared in that group essentially stays in that group because it wasn’t meant for public consumption and only those in close relationship could be the gentle and loving stewards of the sharing’s of people’s hearts. To take it outside that circle is reckless and left wide open for misunderstanding, judgment, and scorn. Judas broke this code of conduct and his remorse about it would eventually lead to his own demise.

Betrayal is one of the hardest offenses to forgive and one of the most heart breaking to accept because trust/security is one of our basic human necessities. Jesus tries to warn his circle of trust about his own betrayal. Using the word “handed” him over was a clever choice in my opinion because it suggested someone with whom Jesus would join hands, one of his best friends, one in his circle of trust. The actual scene when the authorities arrest Jesus has another compelling action that makes your blood run cold…a kiss. Judas chose a kiss to identify Jesus to the people that would torture and kill him. It adds so much more to the story doesn’t it? Yes, Jesus had enemies after him for the entirety of his ministry, but he was able to avoid arrest and execution of number of times. It took one of his closest companions to “hand” him over. After that only his mom, one apostle, and a few more disciples (women) stayed in there for the long run. It makes me wonder, which hurt him more, the physical torture or the agony of betrayal. Even so, this kind of betrayal only give Jesus’ words more power, more meaning, more efficacy, when he says, “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.”

The gospel ends with this sentence, “But they did not understand this saying; it’s meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.”  Sometimes the meaning is hidden from our eyes and hearts in the midst of a trial and when I find myself not understanding what is going on or why, I can turn to Jesus and know that he knows, and his plan always triumphs in the end. Let us not be afraid to ask Jesus about the meaning of his plan and let us forgive as Jesus forgave. No greater love is there than to lay one’s life down for a friend. Have a blessed day and know that you are loved.

Reading 1 ECCL 11:9—12:8

Rejoice, O young man, while you are young 
and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart,
the vision of your eyes;
Yet understand that as regards all this
God will bring you to judgment.
Ward off grief from your heart
and put away trouble from your presence,
though the dawn of youth is fleeting.

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,
before the evil days come
And the years approach of which you will say,
I have no pleasure in them;
Before the sun is darkened,
and the light, and the moon, and the stars,
while the clouds return after the rain;
When the guardians of the house tremble,
and the strong men are bent,
And the grinders are idle because they are few,
and they who look through the windows grow blind;
When the doors to the street are shut,
and the sound of the mill is low;
When one waits for the chirp of a bird,
but all the daughters of song are suppressed;
And one fears heights,
and perils in the street;
When the almond tree blooms,
and the locust grows sluggish
and the caper berry is without effect,
Because man goes to his lasting home,
and mourners go about the streets;
Before the silver cord is snapped
and the golden bowl is broken,
And the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
and the broken pulley falls into the well,
And the dust returns to the earth as it once was,
and the life breath returns to God who gave it.

Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth,
all things are vanity!

Responsorial Psalm PS 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 AND 17

R. (1) In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight 
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You make an end of them in their sleep;
the next morning they are like the changing grass,
Which at dawn springs up anew,
but by evening wilts and fades.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the Lord our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

Alleluia SEE 2 TM 1:10

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Christ Jesus destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 9:43B-45

While they were all amazed at his every deed,
Jesus said to his disciples,
“Pay attention to what I am telling you.
The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” 
But they did not understand this saying;
its meaning was hidden from them
so that they should not understand it,
and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.