My appointed time draws near (Mt 26:18)

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All of time points to Jesus. His death and resurrection are what St. John Paul II called the “fulcrum of history.” Everything leads to the Father's appointed time, where Jesus endures His passion and cruel death and rises from the dead. All the prophets' messages point to Him who theologians down through the ages have called, “Lord of history.”

In today's Gospel, (Mt 26:14-25) Jesus' appointed time draws near. Judas approaches the chief priests and asks them, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” Matthew tells us, “They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.”

The Gospel's focus shifts to Passover meal preparation, and Jesus instructs His disciples,

“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.” (bold added)

During the meal, Jesus announces his betrayal, as written by the prophets, and acknowledges that Judas is the one who will betray him. The appointed time begins:

“'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.'”

The first reading (Is 50:4-9a) is the second of Isaiah's Servant songs. It too points to an appointed time of suffering for the Servant Messiah:

I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard;
My face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.

The response from Psalm 69 prophetically points to an appointed time of suffering for the Anointed One of God:

Insult has broken my heart, and I am weak, I looked for sympathy, but there was none; for consolers, not one could I find.
Rather they put gall in my food, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

What strikes me over and over from these readings is how Jesus knew exactly what was coming. He is the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Rev 13:8) His appointed time was set before creation, and foretold through the prophets. As He enters this appointed time, Jesus embodies everything noble and worthy that we admire in the great saints who willingly die for the truth of His Gospel.

Thank You, Lord, for willingly dying at the appointed time for me. I surrender my life to You today. Make me worthy to share in Your gift of eternal life won for me at so great a price. Amen.

Link to readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041322.cfm


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