Wednesday

I am tired of shallow plots illuminated on the glowing box in the corner of my living room.

I am tired of shallow talk shows tracing the woes of some starlet heading into rehab.

I am tired of shallow reality shows which prey on people’s miseries.

I am tired of shallow.

Holy Week takes me deep into the plot which changed the course of the world. Holy Wednesday is a day which the Church invites her people to consider two fascinating stories.

Matthew 26 records the story of the sinful woman who extravagantly anointed Jesus shortly before His passion.

There is also the story of Judas, Jesus’ disciple, who betrayed the Lord.

Both stories have deep plots. The sinful woman in an act of grace acknowledged Jesus as Lord and was set free, while the disciple who betrayed Jesus experienced loss and separation.

Holy Wednesday is celebrated in a variety of ways. Holy Wednesday known also as “Spy Wednesday” denotes the day Judas Iscariot conspired with the Sanhedrin, the ruling body, to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.

In parts of Europe, children build an effigy of Judas and climb to the top of church steeples to throw it to the ground. People on the ground then drag it through the village where people strike it with sticks and stones. Finally, whatever is left is thrown into the river.

We are moving through the plot and narrative of Holy Week. We are moving toward the final act of Lent. Maundy Thursday…Good Friday…and the Cross are before us.

Nothing shallow here. Deep plots, deep love, deep change…

What do you think?