Gospel: John 13:21-33, 36-38
After saying this, Jesus was distressed in spirit, and said plainly, “Truly, one of you will betray me.” The disciples then looked at one another, wondering whom 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 in the dish and gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 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 the table, understood why
Jesus had said this to Judas. As Judas had the common purse, they may have thought that Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or, “Give something to the poor.” Judas left as soon as he had eaten the bread. It was night.When Judas had gone out, 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, 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 afterward you will.” Peter said, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I am ready to give my life for you.” “To give your life for me?” Jesus asked Peter. “Truly I tell you, the cock will not crow, before you have denied me three times.”
Reflections
“Truly, one of you will betray me.”Betrayal is a serious offense against a friend or someone who has shown so much love. Distressed, Jesus announces to the apostles, his inner circle of friends, that he will be betrayed by one of them. Naturally, they wonder who will betray him. Jesus points to Judas Iscariot, the one entrusted with the money. We can imagine that in addition to what he is holding now in his purse, he will receive 30 pieces of silver. Bingo. Judas sacrifices friendship with Jesus and his fellow apostles, in pursuit of money. Others betray their friends because of politics, power and prestige, to get ahead of them.Jesus also predicts Peter’s similar action. Peter will renege him, not for material benefit, but for his own survival.Sometimes we betray our friends by blaming them for a misdeed done, to save ourselves. Finger pointing is foul, if we have been there. We may be spared of punishment, but we have just lost our friends and their respect for us. There will be a day of reckoning too. Judas’ story has a miserable end. This should warn us who want to keep afloat at the expense of others. We too will be cursed.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019
