April 17, 2019
The readings for today show two very different perspectives. One is very hopeful and upbeat while the other is quite negative.
In Isaiah there is there a very positive message that God is with us and if we listen to Him and spread His word He is always with us and we will not fail. Isaiah says that"...the Lord has given me a well trained tongue that I may speak to the weary a word that will rouse them." God gives us a well trained tongue so we can spread His word today---we just need to be open to that word and be willing to spread it. Isaiah was assured, as we should be, that God will be with us and even if we are ridiculed or people want to try to keep us quiet we will prevail because God is indeed with us.
In today's gospel we find Judas who has taken money from the chief priests as a bribe to hand Jesus over. When confronted by Jesus at the last supper Judah tries to deny he has betrayed Jesus. Jesus, for his part lets Judas know that his actions are known. From this account we know that God has a plan for us all. Just as in Judas's case, none of us knows what the grand plan is that God has for us---we just need to have faith that there is a plan and that things will work out for us because God is with us.
Bill Schutte
St. Anthony Parishioner (member of parish council)
