The question - "have you been betrayed?"- is a shamefully painful one. It is more painfully piercing when it is done by close friends. Betrayal inflicts deep hurt, but it is not stopping us from living out our faith. Read the servant described in Isaiah. He endures insults and hardship but continues to trust in God. His embrace of the Lord's difficult and dangerous instruction shows he is prepared to face betrayals. (Isaiah 50:6). The servant boldly proclaims: "Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced." (Isaiah 50:7). This is never a reliance on his own manly strength but on His union with God.

In this unnerving moment of the Lord's Passion, our eyes are upon Jesus. In Matthew's Gospel narration, Jesus knew Judas' plot of betrayal, yet He continues His mission with reliance on His Father. What can we infer from the disciples' response? When Jesus spoke of betrayal, the disciples were stunned and wondered who He meant. This begs us to examine our hearts' ill -craving. Judas' treachery demonstrates how sin can result from self-interest. While we acknowledge our human frailties, to be close to Jesus is to stand on His side and ask Him for guidance to resist temptation and make wiser decisions.

Let us not be overwhelmed by the challenges of human weakness to betray. Rather, we draw strength from the suffering servant and Jesus to be steadfast in our resolve to follow Him.