Spy Wednesday

Surprise, I'm not writing about April Fools' Day! It's the Wednesday of Holy Week, and there's actually a name for today.

Those reading the traditional lectionary will get Luke's account of the Passion today. Tomorrow, we celebrate the institution of the Lord's Supper on Maundy Thursday...so what happens right before that? Judas decides to betray Jesus.

That's the name, at least in English: Judas spied an opportunity, and took it. He was out for gain, out to force Jesus into doing what he thought should be done, out for every chance he could get. An opportunitst par excellence. We're like that too, looking for every angle, every benefit, every chance we get - thanks be to God that we have One who saves us from this.

Thanks be to the One who saves us from the rightful punishment of our sins, to the One who is resurrected and in Whom we live!

A couple of traditional collects (prayers) for today:

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God: that we, who for our evil deeds are continually afflicted, may mercifully be relieved by the Passion of Thine only-begotten Son; who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost: ever one God, world without end. Amen.

O God, who willed Thy Son to submit for our sake to the yoke of the Cross, so that Thou mightst drive from us the power of the enemy: grant us, Thy servants, to attain the grace of the resurrection. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord,  who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost: ever one God, world without end. Amen.