Session 4: The Silver
The present moment enfolds me… I stand at the frontier of peace… a horizon of hope beckons…
I begin by setting the scene of today’s reflection in my mind…
A leather pouch of silver coins, a will bent by fearful leaders, an opportunist mocks the feast, double crossed without a moment’s thought, yet the world turns on this moment, he goes as is written of him…
I ask for the grace to be counted among Jesus’ friends…or whatever it is that I need at this moment…
Matthew 26:14-25
Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I betray him to you?’ They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.
On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?’ He said, ‘Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, “The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.” ’ So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.
When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.’ And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, ‘Surely not I, Lord?’ He answered, ‘The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.’ Judas, who betrayed him, said, ‘Surely not I, Rabbi?’ He replied, ‘You have said so.’
As you weigh the weight of thirty pieces of silver against the friendship of Jesus, let yourself notice the faces of the disciples as they react to the revelation that one of their number will betray him. Do you notice surprise or regret…pain or relief…anger or sorrow…? As you watch their distress begin to grow, what expression is forming on your face…? How is it possible that a friendship so close could break like this…?
As you listen to these words again, consider whose side you would like to be on, as Jesus makes his way to the cross…
And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, ‘Surely not I, Lord?’ He answered, ‘The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.
Speak to Jesus, as one friend speaks to another, tell him what his friendship means to you, then listen to his response…
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit…
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.