Homily for Wednesday of Holy Week

The early Church was very aware that Jesus was betrayed by one of His closest associates. Although this was a very uncomfortable truth for the early Church, there was no attempt to gloss over the disturbing truth that, in the words of today’s Gospel, Jesus was betrayed by someone who dipped his hand into the dish with Jesus, someone who was an intimate.

The Gospel declares that when Jesus announced that one of those sharing at table with Him would betray Him, everyone present was “greatly distressed.” To be betrayed by someone you trust is very distressing for the one betrayed and for all those associated with Him.

Some of us may have had our trust betrayed by people close to us. We confided in someone and they used that information against us.

This week tells us that such betrayal need not have the last word. God the Father had the last word by raising His Son from the dead. He brought good out of the evil of betrayal and the many other evils that Jesus endured. Divine Providence can also bring good out of the negative things we sometimes have to endure from others. The Passion of Jesus bids us trust that God can work in life-giving ways even after the darkest experiences.+