Reflection for April 4, Tuesday of Holy Week: John 13:21-33, 36-38

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 experienced how it is to be betrayed by a trusted friend? Have you already experienced being denied by somebody very close to you? Jesus experienced these all, He was betrayed by an apostle in Judas and He was denied also by an apostle who sworn allegiance to Him in Peter. 

Just imagine how Jesus felt during that time; He knew that His world was getting smaller by the day. Then, came 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 and betrayals. 

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 they could save their own lives. Nevertheless, Jesus never took these betrayal and denial personally; for 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? No, because Jesus doesn’t know how to keep ill feelings in His heart. What is the lesson that we can learn from this gospel episode? 

We should not betray anyone of their trust. And if ever someone would betray us, let us forgive even if the betrayer will not ask for forgiveness. Why? For the reason that we are followers of Jesus and aside from that, keeping hatred and unforgiveness in our hearts will not do us any good. – Marino J. Dasmarinas