I will contemplate Your Passion. Reflection for marriages. Matthew 26:14-25

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From the Gospel according to Matthew 26:14–25

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “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.
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said,“Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said,  “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The teacher says, “My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”‘“  The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.
When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.”

I will contemplate Your Passion.

My dear Lord, how painful this scene is! One of Your friends, betraying You. The rest, doubting themselves. You, completely left alone. It hurts even more when I realize that I, too, have left You alone so many times. Worse still, I have also handed You over to the cross for a few coins. Every sin is handing You over for those “coins”: a moment of pleasure, a “I just really feel like it,” words spoken out of place, a criticism, a lack of self-giving… Lord, it deeply pains me to have handed You over to the cross so many times. There You are, suffering horribly, courged, nailed, broken… because of my sin.

My good Jesus, I do not want to sin anymore. During these holy days, I will contemplate Your Passion, filled with sorrow for what I have done to You. Filled with repentance so as never to do it again. Filled with love for what You have done for me, for giving Yourself up even unto death for my salvation. And filled with hope, to receive all the mercy and grace that flow from Your pierced Heart, so that with the strength of Your Holy Spirit I may live a life of prayer and the sacraments, a life that rejects sin, that desires only to be filled with Your Love in order to give itself like You, to love like You.

I love You so much, Lord! Thank you for everything.

Applied to married life:

 

Cath: Steve, this Holy Week I want it to be special. I want us to truly accompany the Lord in His Passion. To be aware that He gave Himself for us, that that “fear to the point of death,” that sweat of blood, those lashes, that torture, that crucifixion… were for us.

Steve: Yes, it’s incredible what He has had to do for us. It makes me so sad not to have been aware of the seriousness of my sins. Every sin of mine meant that torture for Him. I know that in Confession His Mercy has forgiven me. But since every future sin of mine would add more pain to His suffering, I don’t want to sin anymore. I know I am a sinner, but I’m going to do everything I can not to fall again, to live with determination a life of prayer and the sacraments, and a path of purification of my heart, so that, with His Grace, I may spare Him more suffering.

Cath: Yes, and with the hope of knowing that from His pierced Heart comes everything we need to walk that path of holiness. We have no excuse. He has given us everything we need to achieve it. Let’s go for it with determination!

Mother,

Help us to live these holy days by Your hand, like You, close to Your Son. And filled with gratitude. Blessed and praised be God!

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