Spy Wednesday

Hello Everybody!

May seem silly, but first of all I want you to ask yourself -

Where is Jesus sitting in your car this week?

Is he in the boot, completely out of the way, hidden, locked up?

Is he in the back seat, seen through the mirror, now and again giving direction, but constantly ignored?

 Is he in the passenger seat, guiding you on your journey, being listened to and respected?

Or is he driving your car, completely in control, allowing you to enjoy the journey?

We are in the last stages of our Lenten Journey now and for this week at least, we should really think about letting Jesus take over! Let us be led through Holy Week and fully emerge ourselves in all that is to come.

Today's Gospel marks the point in Holy Week, where Judas plots to betray Jesus... Hence the title "Spy Wednesday". When we think of Judas we automatically think "How could he do such a thing?" But maybe it is about time to recognise that we all have a bit of Judas in us!

How many times do we betray God daily?

We could say, it wasn't us who handed Jesus over to die, but actually it was because of us that this had to happen! Today is a day to think about the sins which we are all burdened with. To say, how do we betray God, and what can we do to be reconciled with him?

Maybe it's a case of putting God before the material things in our world - Money, clothes, appearance.
Maybe we should be a closer follower of God, acknowledging to other people that we are happy to be Christian.
Maybe we should spend more time with God in prayer - God who is constantly trying to get our attention and whom we still ignore.

The passion which we heard on Sunday, is full of many characters. The homily I heard by Fr Andrew Cole at my University, expressed these diverse characters beautifully. Each one has a different role and each one can be related to ourselves in some way.
Who do you chose to be most like this Holy Week though? What role will you play?

Will you be Judas - 

Putting money and greed before loyalty to Jesus?

Will you be Peter -

Not even knowing that you betray Jesus daily, but then feeling guilty when you realise you have?

Will you be the prisoner on Jesus' Left -

Mocking Jesus but still asking to be saved?

Or the prisoner on his right -

Standing up for Jesus, believing in him, accepting your wrongs and acknowledging Jesus' innocence?

Will you be Simon of Cyrene -

Carrying the cross of others to release their load?

Will you be one of the women -

Standing back, at a distance, grieving silently?

Will you be Veronica -

Taking pity on Jesus?

Will you be Pilate -

And wash your hands of Jesus when it all gets too tough?

Will you be one of the High priests - 

Afraid that Jesus may compromise your place within society and make you a nobody, a laughing stock?

Will you be one of the crowd -

Who welcome Jesus as royalty, only to shout for his crucifixion days later?

Or   Will you be Jesus Christ -

Putting others before yourself, loving your enemies, forgiving anyone who does bad against you, being prepared to give up everything for others?

I truly hope that each person's Holy Week is blessed, and pray that each of us can step out of our ordinary, scheduled lives for this short time, and reflect on the incredible act of love that Jesus showed to us by dying on the cross. Let us use Jesus as an example, and follow him always.

Keep praying, Jesus loves ya!

Kirsty Lacey, 21,

Studying theology at Nottingham University,

From Corpus Christi Parish, Nottingham Diocese.