When I hear the words Spy Wednesday, for some reason it brings back childhood memories, particularly about the time I had to devise a scheme to retrieve a confiscated comic book.

One of the grannies in my neighborhood in Plymouth, Massachusetts, had an axe to grind with Mad Magazine. “Your Mother lets you read those books!” she scowled.

I figured, well, she’s Catholic, and partially shrugged it off (but then again, so was my mom… so I gritted my teeth and just decided to take one on the chin from Brendan’s granny).

But then she did the unthinkable.

She yanked my comic book, a special edition of Spy vs. Spy, which I hadn’t finished reading yet, out of my hand, and chucked it in the trash. Nope! That wasn’t going to fly.

There’s a connection between what happened next and the reason why we call this Wednesday “Spy.”

So why do we call today Spy Wednesday?

Traditionally, today commemorates the day when Judas Iscariot conspired to hand Jesus over to the Pharisees for 30 pieces of silver. I will let this video tell the story before I comment on that further.

Although it’s easy to point the finger at Judas, I believe we have to admit that there’s a little spy in each of us. After all, we’re all children of Adam and Eve. We don’t like accepting the blame for that, but who can excuse himself of sin?

Today offers us the opportunity to reflect on our own lives and ask, “Lord, is it I?”

Think about it… Why did all the apostles ask Jesus that question? We might as well also ask, why were they all spared the fate of sinning so gravely? Why are we saved?

Spy Wednesday is a day to recognize, accept, and ask the Lord forgiveness for the times we have handed him over… for what? Perhaps less than 30 pieces of silver.

My devious plan to recover my comics

Gotcha!

Here’s how I did it.

Brendan was a bit of a goodie-two-shoes, so I could not count on him as an accomplice. My scheming mind would not rest until I vindicated myself (and my honor!). In about 30 minutes, I had it all figured out. I said:

“Hey, Brendan! Let’s play Gotcha!” (a sophisticated version of hide and seek)

Of course, Brendan could not resist. Then I added:

“No hiding in the house!”

And of course, I also knew Brendan would fall for my reverse psychology.

I covered my eyes 😉 counted to ten, and proceeded into the kitchen through the back door where (through the cracks between my fingers) I saw Brendan slink away moments before. Just to push him deeper into hiding, I called out, “I said, No hiding in the house!”

My plan worked! I opened the trashcan, dusted the coffee grounds off my comic book, and out the door I went…