Frequency of Communion

Garry Nathaniel G. Guiritan T3: Homiletics

A Lenten Homily

Reading 1 IS 50:4-9A

Responsorial Psalm PS 69:8-10, 21-22, 31 AND 33-34

Gospel MT 26:14-25

Have you ever been betrayed? How does it feel? Betrayal is a reality that we all experience. To be betrayed by someone close to us is the worst feeling we can ever feel. It shocks us. It wounds us. It leaves us crippled, unable to move, unable to breathe. It destroys relationships.

Why do we betray others?  The Gospel presents us three real reasons. First, it may have been because of pride. We refuse to accept others as they are and try to make them what we want them to be. We use others for our selfish purpose. We think we know better and we always want to be on the top. Second, it may have been because of avarice. We desire for material wealth and power at the very expense of the others. Relationship becomes less important than material things. Third, it may have been because of disappointment and hatred towards others for not doing what we do expect from them. We feel bad towards somebody to whom we expected so much but did not meet our expectations.

All of these are “Sinful” attitudes. We are all affected by them; in the same way we are capable of afflicting these to our siblings, friends, classmates, neighbors, co-workers, and so forth. But we can still do something about these.

Jesus, in the Gospel, shows us the only way to do so. It is through love that requires self-denial, self-giving, and self-emptying. Jesus humbly accepts the pains of betrayal even to the point of dying on the cross. By His self-effacing sacrifice, He has touched other’s life even that of the one who betrayed Him. He has shown us a hope-filled possibility of a true relationship nurtured by love, not by pride, greed, and hatred; a true relationship that we have to build day in and day out. We have therefore the capacity to conquer those...