Lent Devotional for Women: Wednesday of Holy Week

This Lent Devotional for Women will focus on Judas and his betrayal of Jesus. Although the Scriptures state a devil entered Judas, we know his disloyalty had been in the making. Remember in Matthew 26 when Judas is “concerned” about the cost of the ointment the woman was anointing Our Lord with? He decided that money could have been better spent on the poor. But the Scriptures state, this was not because he cared for the poor but because he was a thief. Are we? No, seriously, are we a thief?

And by “thief” I don’t mean are we stealing from the collection plate every Sunday. I don’t mean are we pulling our minivan up to the side door of the church and looting the building. I mean, what are we taking from God?

Let’s use a marriage example to get us thinking. I am married to Chris. Because of this union, I owe Chris my love and fidelity. If my eye wanders, if my heart strays, I am taking what belongs to Chris and giving it to someone else.

In my union with God, if my eye strays, if my heart wanders, I am taking my fidelity to God and giving it to something or someone else. And taking something that belongs to someone else, is stealing. And I’m pretty sure that example has some not hidden 10 Commandments embedded.

So back to the question, are we a thief? And do we justify it with a big ‘ol, “Because”?

Moving away from the marriage example, let’s take a quick mental run through the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy:

The Corporal Works of Mercy are these kind acts by which we help our neighbors with their material and physical needs.
Feed the hungry
Give drink to the thirsty
Clothe the naked
Shelter the homeless
Visit the prisoners
Comfort the sick
Bury the dead

The Spiritual Works of Mercy are acts of compassion, as listed below, by which we help our neighbors with their emotional and spiritual needs.
Teach the ignorant
Pray for the living & dead
Correct sinners
Counsel those in doubt
Console the sorrowful
Bear wrongs patiently
Forgive wrongs willingly

After we go through that list, let’s go back through it again with the Scripture verse in the forefront of our mind, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

Is there anything, anyone or anyplace we are stealing from listed above? And again, can we justify ourselves with a big ‘ol “Because”?

This reflection is a great question to ask God. “Lord, am I stealing from You in any area of my life?” I would suggest asking this question with pen and paper handy.

More Lent Devotional for Women posts.