Posted by The WORD in other words (2018) by Fr Jonathan Lletada SVD – Tondo, Manila
Holy Wednesday in Holy Week
The gospel is part of the passion story of Jesus in Matthean narration. In this episode, Jesus was with his disciples at the upper room for the celebration of the Jewish Passover. During the meal, he showed his disciples his passion for them, the passion for friendship and camaraderie.
The word passion is derived from the Latin word patior which means (1) to suffer, endure and bear; and (2) intense emotion, feeling, even commitment. Jesus experiences more intense suffering from betrayal. He was betrayed by his disciples. He was deeply pained as he anticipated the moment of betrayal from those people whom he trusted so much.
The greatest betrayal in our relationship with God is our denial of him. And this probably comes from our false friendship with him. When we deny God and our need of him, we deliberately stop seeking for him and we become indifferent to him.
A certain gentleman came to the city of Paris. He rented a room in a respectable hotel and paid for it one month in advance. The owner asked him if he wanted a receipt.
“A receipt will be unnecessary, he replied, “God has witnessed the transaction.”
“What! Do you believe in God in this day and age?” sneered the hotel manager.
“Why, most certainly, my friend,” was the answer. “Don’t you?”
“Not I, Monsieur.”
“Ah, in that case, be so kind as to write me out a receipt.” (Frank Mihalic,SVD, 1000 Stories You Can Choose, Volume 2)
Our faith in Jesus is not sentimental and intellectual. It is a passion for him, the passion to trust and to find security in him.
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