READINGS:
1 R : Is 50: 4 - 9a.
Ps 68 : 8 - 10, 21bcd - 22, 31 & 33 - 34.
Gos : Mt 26 : 14 - 25.
TODAY'S FIRST READING HIGHLIGHTS THE ' DISCIPLESHIP ' ASPECT OF THE SERVANT OF GOD.
IN FACT THE FIRST SENTENCE SAYS, " THE LORD HAS GIVEN ME A TONGUE OF THE " TAUGHT " ( = DISCIPLE ) TO COMFORT THE AFFLICTED. HE HAS GIVEN ME THE EAR TO LISTEN TO HIS COMMAND .
JESUS PERFECTED THE ART OF LISTENING TO GOD'S WORD ALONE AND NEVER SWERVED FROM THE PATH OF OBEDIENCE.
MAY BE WHEN MAHATHMA GANHIJI REFERED TO THE THREE MONKEYS, ONE OF THE LESSONS WOULD BE:
NOT TO SEE, HEAR AND SPEAK BAD IN FACT CAN MEAN TO SEE , HEAR AND SPEAK AS THE LORD / ' TRUTH ' DEMANDS.
AS JESUS BECAME SERVANT OF GOD, HE ALSO BECAME AN OBJECT OF SNUB AND RIDICULE. HE OFFERED HIS BACK TO THOSE WHO HIT AND HIS CHEEKS TO THOSE WHO WOULD PULL HIS BEARD.
JUST NOTE; ALL THESE WERE ' THE REALITY ' ON GOOD FRIDAY.
THEREFORE THE FOURTH AND THE LONGEST OF THE FOUR SERVANT SONGS IS READ ON ' GOOD FRIDAY '
FROM THE GOSPEL, WE HAVE TO DRAW A LESSON THAT EACH ACTION OF HUMAN BEINGS HAS A SALUTARY OR DESTRUCTIVE EFFECT.
JESUS EXCLAIMS, " THE SON OF MAN GOES AS IT IS WRITTEN OF HIM, BUT WOE TO THE MAN BY WHOM THE SON OF MAN IS BETRAYED ! IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER FOR THAT MAN IF HE HAD NOT BEEN BORN "
JUDAS COULD NOT HAVE SAID THAT HE IS HELPING IN GOD'S DESIGN AS SOME WOULD HAVE SAID TODAY.
