First Reading (Isaiah 50,4-9a)
Reading of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.
The Lord God gave me a trained tongue, so that I know how to speak words of comfort to the downcast person; He awakens me every morning and stirs my ear to pay attention like a disciple. The Lord opened my ears; I didn’t resist him or turn back. I offered my back to be beaten and my cheeks to rip out my beard: I didn’t turn my face away from slaps and spit. But the Lord God is my Helper, that’s why I didn’t allow myself to be discouraged, I kept my face as impassive as stone, because I know I won’t be humiliated. By my side is the one who justifies me; Will anyone object to me? Let’s see. Who is my opponent? Come closer. Yes, the Lord God is my Helper; who is going to condemn me?
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (Matthew 26,14-25)
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, one of the twelve disciples, called Judas Iscariot, went to the high priests and said: “What will you give me if I hand Jesus over to you?” They then agreed on thirty silver coins. And from then on, Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus. On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Food, the disciples approached Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare to eat the Passover?” Jesus replied: “Go to the city, look for a certain man and say to him: ‘The Master says to say: my time is near, I will celebrate Easter in your house, together with my disciples'”. The disciples did as Jesus commanded and prepared Easter. As evening fell, Jesus sat down at the table with the twelve disciples. As they ate, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” They were very sad and, one by one, they began to ask him, “Lord, is it me?” Jesus replied: “He who will betray me is the one who puts his hand in the dish with me. The Son of Man will die, as the Scripture says about him. However, woe to him who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better if he had never been born!” Then Judas, the traitor, asked, “Master, is it me?” Jesus answered him, “You say so.”
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Imagine waking up every morning and the first thing you do is listen. Not the cell phone alarm, not the traffic noise, not the TV news, but the voice of God. This is the image that the prophet Isaiah presents us with in today’s first reading: “The Lord God has given me a trained tongue, so that I may know how to speak words of comfort to the downcast person; he wakes me up every morning and stirs my ear to pay attention like a disciple.”
What a beautiful testimony of intimacy with God! Isaiah reveals to us that his prophetic eloquence, his ability to console the downcast, does not come from his own talent or wisdom, but from his willingness to listen to God each morning. He puts himself in the position of a disciple, an apprentice, with his ear attentive to divine instructions.
But the text does not just present us with moments of consolation and serene listening. Soon after, Isaiah describes the persecution and suffering: “I offered my back to be beaten and my cheeks to pluck out my beard; I did not turn my face away from slaps and spit.”
This is the portrait of the Suffering Servant, a figure who, in Christian tradition, prefigures Jesus Christ. Isaiah shows us that the same God who awakens our ear to words of comfort also strengthens us to face opposition and rejection. “The Lord God is my helper, that’s why I didn’t let myself be discouraged, I kept my face as impassive as stone, because I know I won’t be humiliated.”
This passage sets the perfect setting for our reading of the Gospel, where we contemplate the beginning of the Passion of Christ. Matthew tells us how Judas went to the chief priests and agreed to hand over Jesus for thirty pieces of silver – the price of a slave. What a striking contrast: while Isaiah describes someone who gets up each morning to listen to God, Jude is closing his ears and hardening his heart.
Judas’ betrayal has always provoked perplexity and sadness in the Christian community. How could someone who lived with Jesus, witnessed his miracles, listened to his teachings, betray him for money? This question invites us to examine our own hearts.
When Jesus announces during the Supper: “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me”, each disciple asks: “Is it me, Lord?” This reaction demonstrates touching humility. They don’t point fingers at each other; each one looks inside themselves, recognizing their own fragility.
This is a powerful lesson for us. In the face of Judas’ betrayal, we should not rush to judge him with moral superiority, as if we were incapable of such perfidy. Instead, we should sincerely ask, “Is it I, Lord?”
Because the truth is that we have all betrayed Jesus in some way. When we choose selfishness over love, when we commit ourselves to values contrary to the Gospel for convenience or personal gain, when we remain silent in the face of injustice, are we not, in a way, selling out Jesus?
And how much do we sell it for? Thirty pieces of silver seem ridiculously little for the Son of God, but how often do we trade our Christian principles for even smaller gains—a moment of pleasure, a temporary advantage, the fleeting approval of people whose opinions shouldn’t matter so much?
The contrast between today’s two readings offers us a path of spiritual discernment. We can choose Isaiah’s path – waking up each morning with an ear open to God, willing to receive his word and face opposition with firmness. Or we can follow the path of Judas – closing our ears to the truth, allowing greed, disappointment, or hurt pride to harden our hearts.
It is significant that Judas asks, “Am I, Master?” – using the title “Master” (Rabbi) instead of “Lord” like the other disciples. This small detail suggests a different relationship with Jesus – perhaps Judas saw him only as a human teacher, not as the divine Lord. Perhaps he was disappointed because Jesus did not meet his expectations of a political Messiah who would free Israel from the Roman yoke.
How many times are we disappointed in God when He doesn’t act according to our expectations? How many times have we turned away because the path He shows us is not the one we had planned? The danger is not in having doubts or disappointments – that is part of the journey of faith – but in allowing these experiences to close our hearts to the transforming grace of God.
Isaiah’s Suffering Servant shows us another attitude: even in the face of persecution and suffering, he remains confident: “I will know that I will not be humiliated… the Lord God is my helper.” This unshakable trust comes from daily intimacy with God, from listening to His voice each morning.
In the celebration of the Eucharist, we have the opportunity to renew this intimacy. Jesus gives himself to us in the consecrated bread and wine – the same Jesus that Judas betrayed for thirty pieces of silver. In the face of this unconditional love, we are invited to ask with humility: “Is it me, Lord?”, not with paralyzing fear, but with a heart open to transformation.
And if, like Judas, we recognize that we have betrayed the Lord, let us remember that there is a crucial difference between Judas and Peter. Both betrayed Jesus – Judas by surrendering to his enemies, Peter by denial – but Peter wept bitterly and opened his heart to forgiveness, while Judas closed himself in despair.
My dear brothers and sisters, as we approach the celebration of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ, let us ask for the grace to have a “trained tongue” to console the downcast, a “listening ear” to listen to God each morning, and a heart always open to repentance and transformation.
May the Suffering Servant, who faced rejection and persecution with dignity, inspire us to remain firm in our faith even in difficult times. And may Jesus, who loved to the end even those who betrayed him, teach us to love without measure and to trust without reservation in divine help.
The next time your alarm goes off in the morning, before you pick up your cell phone or turn on the TV, do as Isaiah did: offer God your listening ear. Allow Him to awaken your heart, train your tongue and strengthen your spirit. It is in this daily intimacy that we will find the strength not to betray our Christian values, even in the face of the most difficult temptations and challenges.
May the Lord bless each of you with the grace to listen to His voice, the courage to persevere through trials, and a heart always open to repentance and love. Amen.
