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Wednesday, March 27, 2024

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Holy Week


Isaiah 50:4-9
Psalm 69:8-10, 21-22, 31, 33-34
Matthew 26:14-25

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docile or judas?

“Then Judas, His betrayer, spoke: ‘Surely it is not I, Rabbi?’ ” —Matthew 26:25

The last word Judas spoke to Jesus was to call Him “Rabbi,” meaning “Teacher” (Mt 26:49). One of the first words spoken to the risen Christ was: “Rabbouni” (Jn 20:16). This is a variation of the word “Rabbi,” and it also means “Teacher.”

Judas, the betrayer of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene, the first person to meet the risen Christ, both called Jesus by the same title. The difference was that Mary Magdalene listened to her Teacher, while Judas did not. In other words, Mary Magdalene was docile, that is, teachable, and Judas wasn’t. Docility is the difference between love or betrayal, life or death, and heaven or hell.

For example, morning after morning the Lord will open your ears (Is 50:4). He will teach you “how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them” (Is 50:4). However, to speak these rousing words, you will have to suffer. You may have to expose your back and face to “buffets and spitting” (Is 50:6). Naturally, you don’t want to suffer or even hear about suffering. Will you rebel (see Is 50:5) or be docile? If you are docile to the Rabbi’s teaching about the suffering of the cross (see Lk 9:23), you will meet the Rabbi risen from the dead. Be docile, or you’ll be Judas.

Prayer:  Rabbi, send me the Holy Spirit of docility.

Promise:  “See, the Lord God is my Help.” —Is 50:9

Praise:  Elizabeth decided to accept Jesus as the Messiah even though she risked losing her family.

Reference:  (For a related teaching on Be Holy, For I am Holy, view, download or order our leaflet on our website.)

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