Isaiah 50:4-9 / Matthew 26:14-25
Tomorrow evening, the Church enters into the Sacred Paschal Triduum, which is the mystery of the suffering, death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
It is going to be three days of intense spiritual activities in which we are led to contemplate and participate in the saving mission of Jesus.
So today we take time to prepare our hearts and minds to be in union with the Church as we journey together with Jesus in this Paschal mystery.
We need to focus on Jesus so as to be in union with Him during the next three days.
Essentially we need to listen to the Word of God during the next three days.
As the 1st reading says: Each morning, the Lord wakes me to hear, to listen like a disciple. The Lord has opened my ear.
We listen to the Word of God so that we may have a disciple’s tongue and to encourage the wearied.
We listen to the Word of God so that, like Jesus, we will be able to accept the struggles and troubles of this world.
We listen to the Word of God, so that, like Jesus, we will not fear the sharpness of the insults and the betrayals of those who are against us.
Like Jesus, we will not be ashamed or cover our face nor resist, but we will be courageous.
We will follow Jesus to face the crosses of our lives, and witness to the Good News.
Because we know that through the Cross, Jesus will grant us strength and courage, and with Jesus, we will rise to victory over sin.