Tradition has called this day "Spy Wednesday" because this is the day Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and asked them what they would give him for handing Jesus over to them. It is the beginning of the Passion and death of Jesus, but he shows himself in the Gospel today as thinking of and planning for the Passover that he will celebrate with his disciples. He is going to give us the gift of himself.
One of my favorite hymns from school days is in my mind today. I think it is worth copying here for meditation.
O Sacred Head surrounded
By crown of piercing thorn;
O bleeding Head, so wounded,
Reviled and put to scorn;
The veil of death falls o'er you,
The light withdraws its rays,
Yet angel hosts adore you,
And tremble as they gaze.
In darkness, we betrayed you,
In mortal fear denied;
In cowardice we judged you,
In sin, we crucified;
Yet you look down in mercy
From on your cross above,
And you forgive our blindness
In your redeeming love.
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