Tuesday of Holy Week

March 27, 2018

Readings:

First Reading – Isaiah 49: 1-6

Psalm 71

Second Reading –

Gospel reading according to John (13: 21-33, 36-38)

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Homily:  Betrayal of Judas and Denial of Peter

This time, Jesus was he one who prepared the meal and his guests were his disciples.  They were invited to his Last Supper with him.  “Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, ‘Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me’.” (John 13: 21).  He was deeply troubled to what he foresaw to happen tonight.  He said that one of them will betray him.  So the disciples were bothered and confused about what he said.  John, “One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ side.  So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom Jesus meant” (John 13: 23-24).  Simon Peter was interested to know who he was to whom Jesus was telling to betray him, so he made a sign to John who was reclining at Jesus’ side.  What John did, “He leaned back against Jesus’ chest and said to him, ‘Master, who is it?” (John 13: 25).  He loved Jesus so he wanted to know also who he was.  All of them are suspects of the crime, that’s why they wanted to know.

“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” (John 13: 26).  Now, the disciples knew who he was.  Now, their doubt to each other was gone and replaced with trust and confidence to one another.  Although they did not understand what was the meaning of betrayal.

“After he took the morsel, Satan entered him” (John 13: 27).  It is Satan now acting on Judas.  Judas has no more control of himself.  He is manipulated by Satan.  “So Jesus said to him, ‘What you are going to do, do quickly’.” (John 13: 27).  As if Jesus was talking to Satan and not to Judas to do what he wanted to do since they had met in the desert of temptation down to the paradise.  As obedient soldier to his master, Judas obeyed Satan and no longer Jesus.  “So he took the morsel and left at once.  And it was night” (John 13: 30).  Judas was under the shadow of darkness, his mind, his whole being, as if he lost his senses and intelligence.  It was night in the life of Judas.  “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” (John 13: 31-32).  Jesus felt relief, as if the torn on his throat was removed (natanggalan siya ng tinik sa lalamunan).  Even though he worried about the lost of one of his sheep, Judas, he fulfilled the will of his Father.

Then Jesus revealed to his disciples what will come tonight.  “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” (John 13: 33).  In a little while he will no longer be seen by them.  It is time for him to go back to his Father.  They cannot follow him where he is going, for he is about to die on the hands of his enemies.  “Simon Peter said to him, ‘Master, where are you going?” (John 13: 36).  Again here comes the aggressive Peter.  He presented again his self.  “Jesus answered him, ‘Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later” (John 13: 36), for he did not understand Jesus very well, so Jesus repeated what he said a wail.  Jesus added though also that he will follow later.  This is an indication of Peter’s death.   Peter was so insistent.  “Peter said to him, ‘Master, why can’t follow you now?  I will lay down my life for you” (John 13: 37).  He said that he is ready to offer his life for Jesus even unto his immediate death.  But the truth is hurting, “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” (John 13: 38).   He was almost equal with that of Judas, who sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, while Peter when the time comes, will deny the one whom he is willing to protect three times.