And They Paid Him Thirty Pieces of Silver.

Wednesday 8^th April 2020. Read Isaiah 50:4-9, Psalm 69 and Matthew 26:14-25.

_“What will you give me if I deliver him to you?’ And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.” *(Matthew 26:15-16)*_

Do you remember a man called Gehazi in the Old Testament? Gehazi was the servant of Elisha. To prove to Naaman that it was God who cured him, Elisha refused to accept any gifts from Naaman after his miraculous cure. Naaman decided to take some sand from Israel to his country stating He would serve no other God.

Gehazi could not resist the gifts Elisha rejected. He ran after Naaman and told a very beautiful lie: My master has sent me to say, “There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets; pray, give them a talent of silver and two festal garments.” In the end, Gehazi received the leprosy Naaman washed off in the Jordan.

Judas knew the Jews were planning to kill Jesus and he also knew that they lacked certain insider information such where they would easily find Jesus and how to identify Jesus at the dim of darkness. Like Gehazi, Judas pounced on this opportunity to make some money for himself. He went to the Jews saying: “What would you give me if I deliver him to you?”

Think of it this way: If Judas had not gone to the Jews, they would have on their own found a way to arrest Jesus. Judas only made it easy for them. This is why Jesus said: “The Son of man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” (Matthew 26:24)

Jesus resisted Satan’s offer of earthly kingdoms but Judas Iscariot bowed for just thirty pieces of silver. The question we must ask ourselves today is: In what ways do I behave like Gehazi or like Judas Iscariot?

I can only imagine the pain Jesus felt in our Gospel passage knowing that someone who shared the same plate with him was going to betray him. This is the pain Jesus feels when we men and women of God turn God’s house into a money-making enterprise when we tell lies by pronouncing fake prophecies just to gain popularity and wealth. The worship of money is always going to be a temptation for anyone who decides to do the work of God.

Most often, the preacher never sets out to make money, but there is the lure of riches and the constant subtle temptations and suggestions from Satan. In the name of helping the poor, putting up projects here and there, he begins to take upon himself the responsibilities of a failed government and before you know it, he doesn’t realize he has made a god of riches. Despite the ban on public masses, you would be shocked to realize the number of persons who still flock our churches demanding for help.

Just as Isaiah sings in today’s first reading, Jesus is silent, he turns not backward, He gives His back to those who strike Him and His cheeks to those who pulled out the beard. He does not hide His face from shame and spitting. And as St. Paul said to the Philippians, “being found in human form He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name.” (Philippians 2:8-9)

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, free me from greed that I may truly worship You. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Wednesday of the Holy Week. Bible Study: Isaiah 50:4-9, Psalm 69 and Matthew 26:14-25).