0330 Holy Tuesday, Holy Week 

      

    John 13,21-33.36-38 | Digital Catholic Missionaries (DCM)

John (13:21-33, 36-38)

 Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint John

Jesus Foretells His Betrayal

21 After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another; uncertain of whom he was speaking. 23 One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who it is?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. 27 After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival”; or, that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

The New Commandment

31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterward.” 37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cockcrows, you will have denied me three times.

Reflection

 This text (John 13: 21-33, 36-38) is placed between the announcement of the betrayal of Judas and the denial of Peter (21.38) and introduces both with the typical formula given to serious matters, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” (vs 21.38) Jesus is gathered together with his disciples for the Eucharistic meal.

After the washing of the feet, and with little agitation, he proceeds to announce the betrayal of one of them.

 The apostles become perplexed. The beloved disciple, John, at the behest of Peter, asks Jesus who it is that will betray him. “The one to whom I give the bread moistened in the dish. So moistening the bread, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. 27 After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him.

Jesus tries to alter Judas’ murderous plans and regain the friendship broken by his ambition and resentment. The offering of bread was a sign of distinction. The gesture for his redemption was useless because Judas rejected the love of Jesus completely. So, Christ said to him: “Do quickly what you are going to do.”

The night foretold by Jesus came. The Evangelist addresses this with symbolic intent 30 So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night. This is not simply a description of the time of day; it is a distinct image of the gloom of sin and rejection. Judas walks into the darkness – away from Jesus, the true light whom the darkness cannot overcome. Lord, where there is darkness, let me bring light.

Judas loved darkness more than light, because his works were evil.

After Judas left, he said, “Now the Son of man has been glorified and God has been glorified in him.” Christ’s death will end in his glorious resurrection; The Son, in his passion and death glorifies the Father by obeying His will.The Father will  in turn glorify the Son for his faithfulness by anointing Him with glory and honour.

The disciples cannot follow Jesus on his way to death; they are not yet prepared. The silence thickens. Christ can already begin his farewell speech.

Prayer

The dark night of betrayal falls. Jesus gives himself up; love is betrayed and denied. Grant us, Lord, to respond to your love faithfully, despite our innate and manifest weakness. We want to demonstrate with our life that love is loved, because if our sin is great, the greater your goodness is. Make the day of your glory shine brightly on us, the splendid Easter of the new covenant in Christ. Amen