Despite all who betrayed Him, He still found it in his heart to help, forgive, and rebuild relationships. Through scripture we can find the strength to do the same.

The thorn from the bush one has planted, nourished and pruned pricks more deeply and draws more blood.  - Maya Angelou: (1928 –2014: was an American poet)

Gospel Text: (MT 26:14-25)

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot,
went to the chief priests and said,
"What are you willing to give me
if I hand him over to you?"
They paid him thirty pieces of silver,
and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
the disciples approached Jesus and said,
"Where do you want us to prepare
for you to eat the Passover?"
He said,
"Go into the city to a certain man and tell him,
'The teacher says, "My appointed time draws near;
in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples."'"
The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered,
and prepared the Passover.

When it was evening,
he reclined at table with the Twelve.
And while they were eating, he said,
"Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me."
Deeply distressed at this,
they began to say to him one after another,
"Surely it is not I, Lord?"
He said in reply,
"He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me
is the one who will betray me.
The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him,
but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed.
It would be better for that man if he had never been born."
Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply,
"Surely it is not I, Rabbi?"
He answered, "You have said so."

The sin of betrayal causes us to hurt those we love with our indifference and self-centeredness.

The sin of betrayal tells us it’s okay to be silent and passive rather than challenge the corrupt practices that are rampant in our society today.

The sin of betrayal leads us to buy into the merits of infidelity, addiction, crime and violence that makes life difficult for those we love and care about.

The sin of betrayal rears its ugly head when we favor revenge over reconciliation.

Jesus ate the Passover meal with people he trusted and loved.  We live, work, pray and socialize with people we trust and love each day.  When the sin of betrayal enters in and messes up our world even a little bit we feel hurt, angry, alone and bereft.  Jesus felt all of these human emotions, but in his great love for us, he accepted death on the cross in order that we all may enjoy new life.