Wednesday of Holy Week

Matthew 26:3-5, 14-16 (The Message)
At that very moment, the party of high priests and religious leaders was meeting in the chambers of the Chief Priest named Caiaphas, conspiring to seize Jesus by stealth and kill him. They agreed that it should not be done during Passover Week. "We don't want a riot on our hands," they said...That is when one of the Twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the cabal of high priests and said, "What will you give me if I hand him over to you?" They settled on thirty silver pieces. He began looking for just the right moment to hand him over.

Prayer for rembrance of the betrayal by Judas Iscariot

Betrayed by a close friend
betrayed by the authorities
betrayed by the whole crowd
We betrayed you, Jesus
forgive us

In the friend we let down
in the secret we let out
in the confidence we broke
we betrayed you, Jesus
forgive us

In the person we passed by
in the needs we ignored
in the victim we had no time for
we betrayed you, Jesus
forgive us

In the homeless person we avoided
in the eyes we did not seek
in the wealth we did not share
we betrayed you, Jesus
forgive us

Then, you forgave, Jesus
Now, forgive
Put a new spirit within our hearts
of commitment to our community.

Be with those let down by society
by employment, by their families
by friends and neighbours
and by themselves.
Put a new spirit within our hearts
of commitment to our community.

Guide those in positions of power and influence
empower those who serve with sensitivity and compassion
put a new spirit within our hearts
of commitment to our community.

Our community is your community
divided by 2000 years but nothing more
Problems and needs just the same
fear and isolation just the same

Then, you forgave
Now, you forgive
Jesus, unchanging
Jesus, for ever the same. Amen.

(prayer from Jesus for Today)