Meditation Minute
“Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”
Gospel Reading: 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."
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."
The week of Holy Week is an intense focus on the sacrifices that were made by our Lord Jesus Christ to save us from our own sins. In today’s Gospel, we hear the story how two of Jesus’ disciples betray and deny him at the time that God’s glory is fulfilled. We are at the pinnacle of Jesus’ mission; we are hours before “the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him” and two of his disciples sin against him. Judas betrays Jesus by turning him over to the Roman guard and Peter denies him while he is being judged by the Sanhedrin. As Jesus is preparing to make the ultimate sacrifice, these two disciples commit sins of denial of the heart. But what separates the two men? Judas will deliberately betray Jesus for money. His act was premeditated and deliberate. He knew what he was about to do. Simon Peter, on the other hand, committed his denial out of weakness and fear. Peter loved Jesus and would not have purposefully denied Jesus. Peter was always quick to make promises and to boast of his loyalty to Jesus. But at times, his mouth out spoke his will. Here, Peter’s loyalty to Jesus is unfailing, unfortunately his will was not quite as strong. After, Peter realizes what he has done, he is very remorseful and saddened by his actions.
Jesus, at the last supper, foretold both events. He acknowledges Judas at the Table by giving a morsel to him. The Gospel says that when Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. Satan took control of Judas. Satan took the unselfish love of Jesus Christ and turned it into hatred and jealousy. Likewise, Satan tries to enter our body when Jesus offers us grace. Satan’s acts are directly contrary to the love that Jesus Christ will pour out for us on the cross. During these last few days of lent, Satan is hard at work trying to divert us from the path that leads to the cross and our salvation. He tries to offer us things that will keep us from God’s glory. He purposefully offers us things to attack our weakness so that we will let him in. Only Jesus Christ can give us the grace and strength we need to battle Satan when he attacks us. If we give into God’s grace, we will walk in the light. If we deny Jesus’ love, we will stumble in the darkness. We can either build Heaven on Earth or fall into the State of Hell.
A Simple Prayer
Lord, I surrender myself to your unending love.
Lead me away from Satan and his evil ways.
Give me the strength to stand firm and not deny you
Yours in Christ
Michael Marcon
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