Tuesday of Holy Week
A SENSE OF MISSION
Introduction
Today’s Gospel presents three persons to us.
The first is a man preoccupied with himself, his own interests and needs, his selfish satisfaction. He is not a free person; he is not open to Christ, for he serves money and greed. He will betray Jesus. This man is Judas.
Then, there is a second man, a good person, open to Christ, but weak. He tries to hide his frailty with impetuous, self-reliant bravery. He cracks in the hour of the test. He will deny Jesus. This person is Peter.
The third person is Jesus. He is totally unselfish, completely open to God and to everyone. He is the perfect servant, the person-for-others, that is described again today in the first reading in the words of the Second Song of God’s Servant. And because he was the perfect servant, he could save us all.
Reading 1: Is 49:1-6
49 1-3 Listen, far-flung islands,
pay attention, faraway people:
God put me to work from the day I was born.
The moment I entered the world he named me.
He gave me speech that would cut and penetrate.
He kept his hand on me to protect me.
He made me his straight arrow
and hid me in his quiver.
He said to me, “You’re my dear servant,
Israel, through whom I’ll shine.”
4 But I said, “I’ve worked for nothing.
I’ve nothing to show for a life of hard work.
Nevertheless, I’ll let God have the last word.
I’ll let him pronounce his verdict.”
5-6 “And now,” God says,
this God who took me in hand
from the moment of birth to be his servant,
To bring Jacob back home to him,
to set a reunion for Israel—
What an honor for me in God’s eyes!
That God should be my strength!
He says, “But that’s not a big enough job for my servant—
just to recover the tribes of Jacob,
merely to round up the strays of Israel.
I’m setting you up as a light for the nations
so that my salvation becomes global!”
Gospel: Jn 13:21-33, 36-38
22-25 The disciples looked around at one another, wondering who on earth he was talking about. One of the disciples, the one Jesus loved dearly, was reclining against him, his head on his shoulder. Peter motioned to him to ask who Jesus might be talking about. So, being the closest, he said, “Master, who?”
26-27 Jesus said, “The one to whom I give this crust of bread after I’ve dipped it.” Then he dipped the crust and gave it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. As soon as the bread was in his hand, Satan entered him.
“What you must do,” said Jesus, “do. Do it and get it over with.”
28-29 No one around the supper table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that since Judas was their treasurer, Jesus was telling him to buy what they needed for the Feast, or that he should give something to the poor.
30 Judas, with the piece of bread, left. It was night.
31-32 When he had left, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is seen for who he is, and God seen for who he is in him. The moment God is seen in him, God’s glory will be on display. In glorifying him, he himself is glorified—glory all around!
33 “Children, I am with you for only a short time longer. You are going to look high and low for me. But just as I told the Jews, I’m telling you: ‘Where I go, you are not able to come.’
36 Simon Peter asked, “Master, just where are you going?”
Jesus answered, “You can’t now follow me where I’m going. You will follow later.”
37 “Master,” said Peter, “why can’t I follow now? I’ll lay down my life for you!”
38 “Really? You’ll lay down your life for me? The truth is that before the rooster crows, you’ll deny me three times.”
Prayer
Lord, our God,
your Son, Jesus Christ,
had to undergo the humiliation
of being betrayed and denied
by those he called his friends.
But he made his suffering and death
into instruments of love and reconciliation.
Make us with him people-for-others,
who accept difficulties, even betrayals
and misunderstanding of our best intentions,
and turn them into sources of life and joy
for those around us.
Keep us faithful to you and to one another
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Reflection:
4 April 2023
Jn 13:21-33, 36-38
What is my credential to be a disciple of Jesus?
The first thing I hear in today’s Gospel is that phrase that we had spoken too many times when we were children: “I didn’t do it.” The disciples of Jesus react like children trying to defend themselves to the statement of the Master: “One of you is going to hand me over.” They all wanted to look like good children who had never committed mischief.
But the reality is not always how we like it to be. Who has not broken a plate or many plates in their lives? Who can say that they are pure and good; that all their works are upright; that they have never acted out of selfishness; and that their intentions were always good? Look at the behaviour of the disciples. They failed to be faithful to the Lord and they all had their selfish reasons for following Jesus.
Some preachers commented: that Peter was delighted that he had left everything to follow Jesus, but in reality, perhaps he had only left a few nets that he mended a thousand times and a boat that leaked everywhere. They had intentions of obtaining important positions in the Kingdom that Jesus would establish. Remember the story of the sons of Zebedee who wanted the left and the right seats on either side of Jesus?
Let us move from the apostles and look into our lives. Can we claim to be pure and good? Although our lives are in disarray, let us not lose hope. Let us be thankful to the Lord for his mercy and draw energy from the good qualities that the Lord has endowed us with. The Lord knows our infidelities and betrayals but loves us for what we are.
The Liturgy of the Holy Week challenges us to keep our selfishness and arrogance aside. We are no different from those we regard as bad or not well-behaved. We are all in need of mercy, forgiveness, and understanding. Let us not judge anyone, even the betrayal of Judas. We are not any better than him. When we judge our brethren, we don’t make ourselves any different from them.
There are two betrayals in today’s reading; one by Judas and the other is by Peter. Peter is a representative of the rest of the group. He is our representative. He was too proud of his credentials – “I would never betray you!” Sometimes we are like him – so sure of our righteousness. We hear people comment: “Do not allow this person to serve in the Church, for he has a bad reputation.” Really? What makes me worthier or more meritorious than the other person to serve God and his Church? Our only credential shall be our reliance on the mercy of God.