April 8, Wednesday of Holy Week

Lord, in your great love, answer me.-- Psalm 69:14

Mass readings: Isaiah 50:4-9 / Matthew 26:14-25

'Surely It Is Not I'

When my cousin, Madonna, was about two years old, her family came from Iowa to visit my family in Seattle. Her famous phrase that summer was ''No I broke it'' -- meaning ''Not me! I didn't break it.'' It's a phrase that humanity learned early in its career. Adam and Eve used it in the Garden of Eden. Adam blamed ''the woman'' (not me!) and Eve blamed the serpent (not me!). It's the phrase of Judas in the Gospel today: ''Surely it is not I.''

How often do we use this phrase -- looking for someone else to blame for our failings. Holy Week gives us the freedom to learn a new phrase: ''It is I'' -- I who have squandered God's gifts, betrayed God's trust -- but also ''I'' whom Jesus loves, for whom He gave His life.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for Your forgiving love.