Spy Wednesday

I learned something new this week.  Did you know that today is known as Spy Wednesday???  Do you even know what that means?  I surely didn't!  I've never even heard the term!

Wednesday is known as Spy Wednesday because on this day Judas made a bargain with the high priest to betray Jesus for 30 silver pieces (Matt 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:1-6). In Poland, the young people throw an effigy of Judas from the top of a church steeple. Then it is dragged through the village amidst hurling sticks and stones. What remains of the effigy is drowned in a nearby stream or pond.

This is also the day that Jesus was anointed with an expensive jar of alabaster by the woman at Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper (Matt 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-19).

Additionally, these two passages would be interesting for you to read if you have never compared and contrasted what each of the books of the bible say......to see how each writer saw things a little differently, or put a different spin on something, or emphasizes something the other two didn't.  Just like in our real lives, today!  :)

One of our duties as Catholics is to uphold the six precepts of the church, with two of them applying directly to Holy Week!  The third (of the six) precept is to receive Holy Communion at least once during the Easter season.  Also, the second precept says that we need to "confess (our) sins at least once per year".  Many of our local churches offered community penance services earlier in the month, but I know this is probably one of the hardest of the Catholic precepts to uphold.  It's hard for us to come forth and list the things we have done wrong (some times much more difficult than others) -- but, in the end, I know I always feel better when I leave.  So, if you haven't been to the Sacrament of Reconciliation for a while, there's still time!  Call your priest and see if he can fit you in sometime this week!  :)  (if you are unfamiliar with the other precepts of the church, you can always consult the Catechism of the Catholic Church -- if you don't have your own copy, it's online and you can google it.  :)

I hope your Holy Week is going well.