Holy Wednesday
First Reading: Is 50, 4-9
Gospel: 26, 14-25
Jesus’ repeated revelation: “Truly I say to you: one of you will betray me,” seen from a mercy perspective, is his attempt in mercy to make the betrayer understand the situation that he is in. His lament that alas for that one who betrays the Son of Man: it would have been better for that one not to have been born, is the extent of the expression of his mercy for the betrayer. The Lord is ever merciful and so, he does not want anyone to perish. But here is someone with him who freely and deliberately; covertly and occultly chooses to perish.
Our proximity to the church and the clergy; our regularity to the prayers and sacraments; our external piety and observances do not guarantee our redemption. We need to choose to enter through the mercy door of our Lord and constantly strive to remain in his mercy and love.
We are living in an age of absolute freedom. We are free to live in faith or without faith; with God or without God. It is an era of ‘black mass’ and satanic worship. There are people who deliberately make choices like Judas the betrayer to join these forces of destruction. But the Lord is merciful! He laments: ‘if they were not born,’ for, he does not want anyone to perish.
Am I a blessing and mercy to others? Or am I a curse or cause of regret for others? The Lord is merciful. His door of mercy is open. Relent and return. Better late than never!
