Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Holy Week
1st Reading: Is 49:1–6
Gospel: Jn 13:21–33, 36–38
Jesus was distressed in spirit and said plainly, “Truly, one of you will betray me.” The disciples then looked at one another, wondering who he meant. One of the disciples, the one Jesus loved, was reclining near Jesus; so Simon Peter signaled him to ask Jesus whom he meant.
And the disciple who was reclining near Jesus asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “I shall dip a piece of bread in the dish, and he to whom I give it, is the one.” So Jesus dipped the bread and gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And as Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus then said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”
None of the others reclining at table understood why Jesus said this to Judas. As he had the common purse, they may have thought that Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast.” Judas left as soon as he had eaten the bread. It was night.
Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. God will glorify him, and he will glorify him very soon. My children, I am with you for only a little while; you will look for me, but, as I already told the Jews, so now I tell you: where I am going you cannot come.”
Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but afterwards you will.” Peter said, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I am ready to give my life for you.” Jesus answered, “To give your life for me! Truly, I tell you, the cock will not crow before you have denied me three times.”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
Surviving on meager resources, Jesus couldn’t have settled for a man of questionable honesty for a treasurer. That Judas got the position could only mean that he was Jesus’ trusted friend. Would any believe he was capable of betraying Jesus? E.M. Forster, author of “Two Cheers for Democracy” wrote: “If I had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend, I hope I should have the guts to betray my country”. Forster’s statement is not a call to rebellion but a dramatization of how deep is the loyalty binding true friends.
Judas hanged himself, thus putting his case beyond the reach of God’s mercy. Judas reached the worst stage of despair, one described by Dorothy Sayers as “the sin that believes in nothing, cares for nothing, seeks to know nothing, interferes with nothing, finds purpose in nothing, lives for nothing, and remains alive because there is nothing for which it will die” (Roy B Zuck, ed.). – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., D.M. Email: dan.delosangeles@gmail.com.
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