Church: Holy Wednesday a chance to atone for sins

THE Church reminded Christians that Holy Wednesday and the Holy Week is an opportunity to repent and atone for their sins.

Today's observance of Holy Wednesday is a reminder of how Jesus was betrayed to the Romans by his apostle Judas Iscariot in exchange for 30 pieces of silver.

Holy Wednesday, also called Spy Wednesday, describes Judas' betrayal despite the trust reposed on him by Jesus in choosing him as one of his apostles to help spread the good news about the Son of God.

The betrayal led Judas to take his own life after he saw that Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, heeded the call of the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin, the council of elders, to crucify Jesus.

Upon seeing Jesus condemned, Judas was seized with remorse and returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.

«I have sinned,» he said, «for I have betrayed innocent blood.»

Judas threw the money into the temple and then went away to hang himself.

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In a Lenten homily, Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula called on the faithful to look at Holy Week as a special time to experience God's mercy and live a renewed life.

«Let us admit where we have gone wrong and decide to follow Jesus again. When we open our hearts and say sorry, we can really feel God's forgiveness,» Advincula said in his homily.

«May this Holy Week be a transformative journey for us all. A journey leading us closer to the heart of our faith,» he said.

He said it's easy for people to think they would not make the same mistakes as the apostles, «but in truth, we often find ourselves in their shoes.»

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«When trials come and troubles pile up, we begin to stray, and like the disciples, we too can turn away from Jesus,» the prelate said.

But Advincula also pointed out that the story of the apostles also brings hope that «it is possible to make things right again.»