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.”
- betray: to deliver to an enemy by treachery; to fail or desert especially in time of need; to be disloyal to; to disappoint the hopes or expectations of.
- Whether or not I have betrayed Jesus and my faith is not a question - the real question is, how many times have I consciously betrayed Him? If I normally "plan" to sin, then how do I get caught up in deserting my faith, disappointing God's hopes for me to be "another Christ" to those around me?
- night: the time from dusk to dawn when no sunlight is visible; the quality of state of being dark; period of dreary inactivity or affliction; condition or time of obscurity, ignorance, sinfulness.
- Can I relate to the feeling of night and darkness that comes into a soul after separating myself from God's friendship? Do I see this night around me? How can I be a light in that darkness?
- deny: to give a negative answer to; to refuse to admit or acknowledge; disown
- Do I pray for the grace to be courageous in my faith? Peter didn't plan on denying Christ...why then did he do so? What lesson can Peter teach me here? Knowing that Christ compassionately forgivess Peter, and helps him to move forward from his failings - does this give me peace and hope in God's forgiveness? How can I better take advantage of the grace to be better that comes from that encounter of mercy with Him?
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