Gospel: John
13:21-33, 36-38
Reclining
at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen,
amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”The disciples looked at one
another, at a loss as to whom he meant. One of his disciples, the one whom
Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ side. So Simon Peter nodded to him to find
out whom he meant. He leaned back against Jesus’ chest and said to him,
“Master, who is it? Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I hand the morsel
after I have dipped it.” So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to
Judas son of Simon the Iscariot. After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered
him. So Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly. Now none of
those reclining at table realized why he said this to him. Some thought that
since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, “Buy what we need for the
feast,” or to give something to the poor. So Judas took the morsel and left at
once. And it was night.
When he
had left, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in
him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he
will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while
longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews,
‘Where I
go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you.” Simon Peter said to him, “Master,
where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow
me now, though you will follow later.” Peter said to him, “Master, why can I
not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you
lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before
you deny me three times.”
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Reflection:
Have you
already felt how it is to be betrayed by a trusted friend? Have you already felt
being denied by somebody very close to you? Jesus felt these all, He was
betrayed by a trusted follower in Judas and He was denied by a follower who
sworn allegiance to Him in Peter.
Just
imagine the feelings of Jesus during that time; He knew that His world was
getting smaller by the day. Then comes the betrayal and denial of Judas and
Peter perhaps Jesus’ heart was already bleeding with sorrow. He was sorrowful
but He never took it personally upon them for
Jesus knew that something good would soon come out of these sorrows.
What was
the good that came out from Judas betrayal? Jesus was able to unmask the traitor
amongst His followers. What was the good that came from Peter’s denial? Jesus
was able to discover that even those who profess to be loyal to Him would deny
Him so that he could save his own life. Nevertheless, Jesus never took this
betrayal and denial personally, He still forgave the two of them.
We too
have denied and betrayed Jesus for countless times already. Has Jesus took our
betrayals and denials personally? Of course not for Jesus doesn’t know how to harbour
ill feelings in His heart.
But can
we do something so that we could somehow show to Jesus that we are remorseful
of our disloyalty to Him? Yes we can do something and we begin it during this Holy
Week. By observing all the liturgical activities of the church or your parish
community. Such as The Way of the Cross, The Chrism Mass and the Mass of the
Last Supper, The Veneration of the Holy Cross and the Easter Vigil Mass.
If we
will observe this Holy Liturgical Celebrations of our church we will not only
signify our remorse to Jesus. Through these holy activities we also are opening
ourselves for the presence of Jesus in our lives.
Will you make
yourself available for these sacred celebrations this Holy Week? – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
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