One Small Step

Wednesday of Holy Week

Isaiah 50:4-9a; Matthew 26:14-25

Notice in Matthew’s gospel how eleven of the Apostles say, Surely it is not I, Lord? while only Judas says, Surely it is not I, Rabbi? The evangelist doesn’t do this by accident; to Judas, Jesus may be many things – teacher, sage, gifted healer, moving speaker – but whatever he is, he is not Lord.

Like Judas, many people cannot make the leap from “Teacher” to “Lord.” Perhaps they’re afraid of what it would mean. If Jesus is Lord, then his words can no longer be taken as opinion, his actions no longer regarded as merely well-intended, his death no longer understood as the death that comes to us all.

And if we’re honest, I think we all know that temptation.

• To admire Jesus… without fully surrendering to him.
• To agree with his teaching… without living it every day.
• To forgive… when it’s easy.
• To love… except when it costs us.
• To trust… but only when we understand.

That one change – from “Teacher” to “Lord”… One small step for the tongue. One giant leap for the heart.

This is the leap of faith.

Yes, it asks a lot, but it gives so much more.

Today, as we prepare to walk with our Lord through his Passion and death, let us take a moment to thank God for the gift of faith, to pray that others may cast aside their fear and make it their own, and that our own faith may be strengthened not only to call him “Lord,” but to do all he has asked; to love as he loved – to the death.

For our actions, born of that love, may become the “well-trained tongue” that speaks to hearts in ways that our words never could.

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