Renew Faith in Christ’s Real Presence This Holy Week – Apr 01 – Homily – Fr Joseph Michael
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Fr Joseph Michael gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Apr 01, 2026, reflecting on Judas' betrayal on Spy Wednesday, emphasizing the need to guard our hearts against sin, linking Judas' turn to rejecting Jesus' Eucharist teaching in John 6, and urging renewed faith in the Real Presence as Lent ends and the Easter Triduum begins.
In his homily on Spy Wednesday, the last day of Lent, Fr. Joseph Michael speaks on Judas betraying Jesus, noting that no one suspected him—not even the other apostles, who wondered if it might be themselves. Jesus tried to wake Judas up to the seriousness of his choice, but Judas still went ahead and later despaired. Fr. connects this to John 6, where Judas might have turned away from Jesus' teaching that his flesh is real food and blood real drink in the Eucharist. We betray Jesus with our sins, so we must stay faithful, trust his mercy, and grow in love for the Real Presence in the Eucharist, especially as Holy Thursday approaches with the Triduum.
Matthew 26:14 – Judas plots Jesus' betrayal – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/26?14
John 6:53 – Eating flesh for life – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/6?53
John 6:64 – Jesus knows betrayer – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/6?64
John 13:27 – Satan enters Judas Iscariot – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/13?27
CCC 597 – Judas' deliberate betrayal choice – https://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p122a4p2.htm#597
CCC 1374 – Eucharist contains Christ totally – https://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a3.htm#1373
Catholic Encyclopedia – Judas Iscariot betrayal – https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08539a.htm
00:00 - Introduction to Spy Wednesday
00:43 - The Darkness of Turning Away from Jesus
01:00 - The Apostles' Confusion and Self-Reflection
01:46 - Jesus Prodding the Conscience of Judas
02:48 - Choosing Sin and the Need for Fidelity
03:28 - Judas and the Rejection of the Eucharist
04:53 - Renewing Our Faith in the Real Presence
05:27 - Preparing for the Sacred Triduum
Ave Maria!
Mass: Wednesday Holy Week - Wkdy
Readings: - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040126.cfm
1st: Isaiah 50:4-9
Resp: Psalms 69:8-10, 21-22, 31, 33-34
Gsp: Matthew 26:14-25
More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1773
Also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBU3U-P33WM
