Wednesday of the Holy Week – 5th April 2023 – Isaiah 50,4-9; Mt 26,14-25
Obedient Servant
The first reading is the third song of the suffering Servant in Isaiah. This ‘Servant’ passage also speaks very graphically of what Jesus will go through in his Passion. In Isaiah, God provides his Servant with the words he needs to speak, especially for those who need encouragement, “The Lord God has given me a disciple’s tongue… to give a word of comfort to the weary.” And Jesus will speak words of encouragement to his disciples before his Passion. He will speak to the women who sympathise with him on the way of Calvary.
In contrast to the rebellious Israel, the Servant of Yahweh expresses his total submission, “I have not resisted, I have not turned away.” The Servant makes no resistance to his attackers. He will not meet violence with violence. However, this is not weakness, but a sign of great inner strength and peace. In the same way, Jesus undergoes all his sufferings and submits to his Father, “Even though he was God’s Son, he learnt through his sufferings to be obedient (Heb 5,8)” and “He emptied himself, taking the form of a slave (Phil 2,7)”. Jesus learnt obedience as a way of life. The great strength for the suffering Servant and for Jesus is that God comes to their help. Insults and violence cannot change the inner security of the person. Their ultimate outcome will not be shame, but vindication and glory. The way of Jesus is the way of Peace.
