14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. 17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. 20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?” 23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” 25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.”
Today’s gospel, like yesterday’s, focuses on Judas’s betrayal. Matthew gives us more background than in John: we see Judas go to the Jewish authorities (significantly, not the Romans since it is the former who see Jesus as a threat) and ask for money. They agree to give him 30 pieces of silver which echoes Zechariah 11:12 ““And they weighed out as my wages 30 shekels of silver.” This quotation should reassure us for it shows that Judas’s action accords with God’s plan: the prophets have foreseen it. Evil may seem to triumph but even God’s enemies do his work. Of course, Judas’s desire for money shows that he is not a true follower of Jesus.
Jesus, meanwhile, prepares his last Passover. He tells his disciples what they need to do and say to organize the meal. Notice how Jesus refers to himself as “the teacher” and how he sends orders to his host, informing him (through the disciples) that Jesus’ Passover will be celebrated in his house. The disciples obey Jesus’ instructions precisely, showing that, in spite of their faults, they try to serve Jesus by following his word. At that time, the Passover festival lasted a week, and the meal itself was eaten on the first day after sunset.
The scene then switches to the Last Supper, and, as in John’ gospel read yesterday, Jesus announces that one of those present will betray him. They all give a horrified response, although Judas sets himself off from the group by calling Jesus, “rabbi” (the term that an outsider would use) rather than “Lord” like the others. In verse 24, Jesus insists that the coming events are all part of God’s plan but this does not mean that Judas is not responsible for his actions. God turns all things to good but, even when one is acting as an instrument of God, one is still accountable. Notice the hypocritical response of Judas in verse 25. Jesus’ answer shows that he is not fooled. And so the drama progresses towards Jesus’ passion and death.
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