Spy Wednesday: The Betrayal in the Heart of Holy Week

We are now deep into Holy Week. The Cross looms closer. The silence of Holy Saturday and the triumph of Easter are just days away. But first, we pause to reflect on one of the most unsettling moments in the Gospels: the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot.

This day—Holy Wednesday, also known as Spy Wednesday—is often overshadowed by the more dramatic liturgies of Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Yet it holds a vital key to understanding not only the story of the Passion but also the shadows that can exist within every human heart.

Why Is It Called "Spy Wednesday"?

The traditional name Spy Wednesday comes from the old English use of the word “spy”, which means one who acts in secret, especially with betrayal or deceit.

On this day, we remember the moment Judas Iscariot secretly conspired with the chief priests to hand Jesus over to them for thirty pieces of silver:

“Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I deliver Him to you?’ And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray Him.”— Matthew 26:14–16

This is the turning point. The betrayal is now in motion. The wheels of the Passion begin to turn. Jesus is no longer just misunderstood or opposed—He is now being hunted.

The Weight of Betrayal

One of the most painful aspects of Spy Wednesday is the personal nature of Judas’ betrayal. Judas was not a stranger. He was one of the Twelve. He had walked with Jesus, eaten with Him, witnessed His miracles, and heard His teachings firsthand. And yet, he sold the Lord for a bag of silver coins.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us:

“Jesus knew and freely accepted his death... His redemptive Passion was the very reason for his Incarnation” (CCC 607).

In other words, Jesus was not taken by surprise. He knew the betrayal would come—and still, He chose love. He chose the Cross.

Saint Thomas Aquinas reflects that Christ’s patience in the face of betrayal reveals His divine love. He writes:

“In His Passion, Christ endured not only the physical pain of crucifixion, but also the emotional pain of betrayal, abandonment, and denial. He chose it, so that our redemption might be complete.”

And what about us?

Spy Wednesday invites us to look not only at Judas—but at ourselves.

Looking Into Our Own Hearts

We may not sell Jesus for silver, but we too can betray Him—in small ways, in quiet compromises, in moments of fear or selfishness.

• When we neglect prayer because we are “too busy”

• When we choose sin over virtue out of convenience

• When we fail to defend the truth or witness to our faith

• When we deny Christ in our actions, even if not in our words

  
  

Spy Wednesday is a mirror. It asks us to look closely and honestly: Have I been faithful? Or have I, like Judas, sought something else above the Lord?

But this is not a day for despair—it is a day for conversion.

Even in the shadow of betrayal, the mercy of Christ shines. If Judas had turned back—if he had repented like Peter—we believe he too could have been forgiven. Jesus did not die for the perfect. He died for sinners. For traitors. For us.

How to Keep Spy Wednesday

Here are some ways to prayerfully mark this solemn day:

1. Read the Betrayal Narrative (Matthew 26:14–25)

Spend time with the Scriptures. Read slowly. Picture the scene. Notice how Jesus speaks to Judas with sorrow, not rage. Let His mercy move your heart.

2. Examine Your Conscience

Take time for a serious, prayerful examination of conscience. Ask:Where have I betrayed the love of Christ? Where do I need forgiveness before Easter? If possible, go to Confession today.

3. Pray for Those Who Have Betrayed You

Jesus was betrayed—and yet He forgave. Today is a powerful opportunity to pray for anyone who has hurt or betrayed you. Pray also for the grace to forgive.

4. Offer Acts of Reparation

Spy Wednesday can be a day of voluntary fasting, almsgiving, or prayer as reparation for the times we and others have betrayed God’s love.

Hope in the Darkness

Though Spy Wednesday is sombre, it is not without hope. It reminds us that Jesus entered fully into the darkness of human sin, including the pain of betrayal. And He did it to bring light.

Even in Judas’s betrayal, God’s plan was not thwarted. As Saint Augustine said:

“God judged it better to bring good out of evil than to suffer no evil to exist.”

The Passion is underway. The Cross is near. But so is the empty tomb.

If you feel unworthy this Holy Week, remember this: Christ came for the unworthy. Even if you have failed Him, it is not too late. Turn back to Him. Now is the time.

Let Spy Wednesday be the day you step out of the shadows, drop the silver, and return to the Saviour.

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