Homily on Matthew 26:14-25: The Danger of Missing Your Vocation

Homily on Matthew 26:14-25:  Judas, Betrayal, and the Danger of Missing One’s Vocation 

( Wednesday, the 16th of April 2025 )

Praise be to Jesus Christ

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‘Misunderstanding’, a famous play by Albert Camus, narrates the beautiful story of a poor mother and daughter who were running a hotel. They struggled a lot to run the restaurant. But they hoped a bright future. One day, a gentleman arrived at the hotel and requested a stay. The richness and status were very evident in his appearance. But greed evoked the daughter to try some ways to rob the new guest. Even Mother disagreed initially, but she agreed, foreseeing the prosperity they are going to have. They executed that brutal plan. But later, the truth was revealed. The guest who stayed and was killed was the owner’s son who returned after long years earning money for the family. He took a room there to surprise the mother and sister to give them a life. But they misunderstood him and eliminated their saviour.

As we are journeying through the passion of Christ, it has a story of betrayal by his own disciple Judas. Today’s Gospel reminds us that ” The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.”It is so hard for Judas to state that it could have been better if he had not been born. Because he became the cause of the death of God, the saviour himself.

Judas was created by God in His own image. He was given a call to be human, he was called by Jesus to be his disciple. But Judas failed to recognize the value of call and spoiled himself. He couldn’t receive the Word of God even though he followed Jesus for three years. He not only committed a sin but ended his life in despair. A life without purpose is quite meaningless.

A useless vessel won’t be kept anymore as it is a waste of space…

A dead body won’t be stored as it is lifeless…

A cruel animal will be eliminated as it is life-threatening…

A worn-out shoe will be thrown away as it is useless anymore…

Similar to these physical objects we may also be outplaced if our life doesn’t serve a purpose. As a human, we are gifted a chance to be in the likeness of God. As a Christian, I am called to be a member of the Church. As a lay, I am given entrusted to save that family. As a religious, I am consecrated to God and His people. Each state of life demands a life that is suitable to my vocation. Saints who secured Heaven are individuals who realized the inner call within their call. St. Therese of Lisieux said, “My vocation is love”. She chose the path of love to be a saint, St. Damien realized his call to treat the lepers, and St. Francis Xavier propagated the Word of God as his vocation…

As the Mother and daughter in the story and Judas in the Gospel let us not eliminate the saviours who are sent to our life. But following Jesus and saints let us live our call. Let us examine ourselves are we faithful in our vocation? Did I find my inner call?

Oh, Jesus help me to find my inner call and live my life fruitfully.

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God Bless…