ππ½ππ½ππ½A Holy Teaching on #Semune #Hemamat β The #Wednesday of #Passion
Beloved in Christ, brethren in the faith, spiritual children of the Holy Apostolic Church, draw near with open ears and softened hearts, that you may receive the sacred lesson appointed for this day the third day of our Lordβs Passion known in the holy tradition as Semune Hemamat, the Wednesday of Counsel, of Fragrance, and of Tears. Let us ponder deeply upon the mysteries that unfolded on this holy day, not as mere history, but as divine instruction for the soul, lest we, like Judas, betray the One who gave Himself for our sake.
1. The Day of Counsel
Let us first call to mind the heavy burden of wicked counsel that descended upon the elders, scribes, and chief priests. As St. Matthew and St. Mark have faithfully recorded, on this day, the Sanhedrin the supreme council of seventy-two men, composed mainly of Sadducees and Pharisees and presided over by Caiaphas the high priest assembled not to seek righteousness but to conspire against the sinless Lamb of God.
They schemed not in ignorance, but in envy; not in pursuit of truth, but out of fear that the light of Christ would expose their darkness. And so, they gathered under the veil of religious authority, planning to arrest and kill Him who is the Life itself.
O Christian! Tremble at this counsel, for it shows how religion can become a cloak for evil when separated from humility and truth. Beware of high positions and outward holiness, if within your heart there festers hatred, pride, or jealousy.
2. The Day of Good Smell (Fragrance)
In stark contrast to this odious council, another fragrance arose that day not one of deception, but of repentance and honor. Our Lord, being in the house of Simon the leper, was approached by a woman of a broken heart, who poured a costly ointment upon His head. This was not merely perfume but an anointing, an act of love and recognition an aroma pleasing to God and a sign of His burial.
But see how quickly the scent of this devotion was polluted by murmuring lips. Judas Iscariot, ever the thief hiding behind false charity, cried out, βWhy this waste? This could have been sold and given to the poor!β Ah, but what he sought was not justice for the poor, but a portion for his own purse.
O beloved! Know this: that true charity flows from a heart sanctified by love. To give to the poor is holy, but to use the name of the poor to cover selfish gain is a stench before God. The woman gave all to Christ she counted no cost whereas Judas calculated gain even in betrayal.
Learn then from this woman: pour your most precious things upon Christ. Let your time, your possessions, your gifts be spent for Him, not held in reserve for worldly gain.
3. The Day of Tears
This Wednesday is called also the Day of Tears. And rightly so. For it is the day when Judas, having failed to gain from the perfume, turned to sell the One whom angels worship. βWhat will you give me?β he asked, and they agreed upon thirty pieces of silver the price of a slave. The Son of God exchanged for coin.
O heart, weep! For the Lord who chose Judas as an apostle, who washed his feet with divine humility, who fed him with the same bread given to the faithful this same Lord was betrayed by the very hand He had cleansed.
How heavy must be the tears of Heaven on this day! Yet heavier still are the tears of the soul that recognizes within itself the shadow of Judas.
Do you claim the name of Christian, but deny Him with your actions?
Do you handle the offerings of the poor, only to feed your own belly?
Do you preach generosity, while in your heart hoard treasures of this world?
You have sold Christ. And every time a believer chooses gold over God, every time the voice of the Gospel is silenced for the sake of comfort or gain, Judas is born again.
Continues ππ½