I Lay It Down
Wednesday of Holy Week
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
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.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
It is dumbfounding to consider the power of Jesus. For instance, the Gospel shows that Jesus knew He would be betrayed. He knew who would do it. He knew that He would be crucified. He knew all of it…all along…always. Jesus has a divine, infinite intellect, meaning that He knows everything. Yet He never changed His course. He went willingly to Jerusalem. He didn’t expel Judas on the way. He never treated Him with any contempt, only love.
It is important to know that Jesus does not have His life taken from Him. Jesus lays it down Himself. “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again” (John 10:18). Jesus has all the power. He is utterly, completely in control of the situation when He goes through with His Crucifixion and Death. He chooses it. He chooses it for our sake, not with any contempt, only love.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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