Day Thirty-Seven: Rejecting Empty Promises
Wednesday of Holy Week
Scripture Passage:
“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. (Matthew 26:15)
Opening Reflection:
Today’s Gospel strikes a painful chord: Judas, one of the Twelve, sells out the Savior for thirty pieces of silver. In the stillness of Holy Week, this act forces us to confront the real weight of sin. How often are we tempted to exchange the eternal for the temporary? Judas’ story, tragic as it is, is not just about betrayal it’s about the deceptive power of empty promises.
Meditative Reflection:
Judas may have followed Jesus for years, witnessed His miracles, and heard His teachings. But the desire for wealth perhaps even a deeper disillusionment or pride clouded his judgment. In choosing silver over the Savior, Judas discovered that sin never delivers what it promises. His deep regret shows that even he recognized the hollowness of his choice. Yet instead of returning to Jesus for mercy, he sank into despair.
Like Judas, we sometimes pursue what we think will satisfy us money, recognition, comfort only to be left emptier than before. Today’s Psalm echoes Christ’s pain: “I looked for sympathy, but there was none; for comforters, and I found none” (Psalm 69:21). Jesus, abandoned and betrayed, bore the weight of our sin so that we wouldn’t have to carry its burden alone.
The humorous yet touching story of Sam and the “extra Hail Mary” reminds us how easily we can miscount or misjudge situations based on what we think we know until light is shed on the truth. Similarly, Judas acted on a mistaken hope that the world’s rewards could fulfill him. We must learn from both moments comical and tragic that true clarity only comes when we allow the light of Christ to guide our choices.
Reflection Questions:
Is there something I’m holding onto be it pride, resentment, or unhealthy desire that I know God is asking me to surrender? When I reflect on past regrets, do I run to God’s mercy or hide in shame?
Lenten Question:
Q: Why didn’t Judas seek forgiveness from Jesus?
A: We do not know exactly why, but Scripture shows Judas felt deep remorse yet turned inward in despair instead of upward toward Christ. Unlike Peter, who also denied Jesus but returned in tears to receive forgiveness, Judas could not see the mercy that was still available to him.
Lenten Action:
Examine your heart for anything you’ve prioritized above Christ. Confess it honestly in prayer or, if possible, in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Let today be a turning point.
Concluding Prayer:
Lord Jesus, betrayed by a friend and abandoned by many, You endured the deepest pain out of love for me. Help me to never trade Your truth for the world’s lies. When I fall, give me the grace to run to You in repentance, not away in shame. Let me seek You above all else and trust in Your unfailing mercy.
Amen.
Resources for Lenten Prayers and Reflections:
Daily Saints and Reflections | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
Lenten Reflections | EWTN | https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/reflections/lent
Lenten Prayers and Daily Reflections | My Catholic Life | https://mycatholic.life/lent-prayers-reflections/