Thursday, April 17, 2014

Gospel Reading: John 13:21-33, 36-38



21 After Jesus had said this, he was deeply troubled and declared openly, “I am telling you the truth: one of you is going to betray me.”
22 The disciples looked at one another, completely puzzled about whom he meant.
23 One of the disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was sitting next to Jesus.
24 Simon Peter motioned to him and said, “Ask him whom he is talking about.”
25 So that disciple moved closer to Jesus' side and asked, “Who is it, Lord?”
26 Jesus answered, “I will dip some bread in the sauce and give it to him; he is the man.” So he took a piece of bread, dipped it, and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Hurry and do what you must!”
28 None of the others at the table understood why Jesus said this to him.
29 Since Judas was in charge of the money bag, some of the disciples thought that Jesus had told him to go and buy what they needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor.
30 Judas accepted the bread and went out at once. It was night.
31 After Judas had left, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man's glory is revealed; now God's glory is revealed through him.
32 And if God's glory is revealed through him, then God will reveal the glory of the Son of Man in himself, and he will do so at once.
33 My children, I shall not be with you very much longer. You will look for me; but I tell you now what I told the Jewish authorities, ‘You cannot go where I am going.’
36 “Where are you going, Lord?” Simon Peter asked him.
“You cannot follow me now where I am going,” answered Jesus; “but later you will follow me.”
37 “Lord, why can't I follow you now?” asked Peter. “I am ready to die for you!”
38 Jesus answered, “Are you really ready to die for me? I am telling you the truth: before the rooster crows you will say three times that you do not know me.


Reflection:

          “I am telling you the truth: one of you is going to betray me.” Jesus knows that Judas will betray him. He let Judas do what he must do. The prophecy must materialize. The betrayal must be done. To let everything happen according to God’s will.
          In relation to everybody’s life, not all of the people you’ll meet will be of help for you. Some are there to give a test, a challenge to be strong, brave, courageous, and even to become faithful in facing every problem in life. Every person you meet, whether what you had done had been successful or failure, is according to the will of the Lord. Some will be a bad influence to you, but it is up to you how you are going to face the situation. Every single move has the capacity to change your life; and even the whole world. Just like the betrayal of Judas that caused the death of our Lord on the cross, and changed the whole world.
How can you be a reason for a change?
I think Mahatma Gandhi summarizes the best answer to that question when he said, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”


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