We all have experienced betrayal in one way or another and it always hurt a whole lot more when it was someone we loved and cared about. Some of us become bitter, withdrawn even depressed. Others launch into defence mode often cold and vindictive seeking to get even.
But you O Lord were patient and loving to the end, offering many chances for a change of heart. Even though it must have been extremely hurtful to face such betrayal and knowing that all those whom you loved would soon leave you in your hour of need, still you persevered to do our Father’s Will because You so loved us, Your friends.
Give us the strength to persevere especially when we are tempted to abandon our cross, let us stay focussed on doing our Father’s Will as You were. So that striving for Holiness we may lead one another into our heavenly inheritance. Amen
FIRST READING
Isaiah 49:1–6
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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