Faith Daily | 31 March 2021
PRAYER of the WEEK Until Thursday Evening
Almighty and everlasting God,
of your tender love towards us
you sent your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ,
to take upon him our flesh,
and to suffer death upon the cross,
that all should follow the example of his great humility:
mercifully grant
that we may both follow the example of his patience,
and also be made partakers of his resurrection;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
GOSPEL for the Day: John 13: 21-32
After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 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. After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 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. So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once
GOSPEL Reflection: Contributed by Peter Galbraith
Most (probably all) of us have been in situations where a particular decision and subsequent actions to implement it, determine the future for all concerned. To that point alternative pathways are possible, but once confirmed the above action means that the die has been cast – there is no going back.
John paints such a picture in this segment of Chapter 13. It is the last time that Jesus and all his original disciples will be together in the same place.
Jesus shatters the company with a declaration “One of you will betray me”. The disciples are bemused: What and who is he talking about? Peter motions to John, who is sitting beside Jesus, to find out more, and Jesus responds to John’s query. It seems likely that the response is whispered for according to the record the disciples remain confused. They (including John) do not seem to suspect Judas of anything sinister when he accepts the piece of bread and leaves the room. Wasn’t Judas likely to be fulfilling some of his obligations as keeper of the purse?
As we reflect on this passage perhaps with our minds “ear” we can hear the opening of the door and its closing behind Judas as he embarks on his final awful act. The die is now cast, there is no going back. The pathway is set, and it will lead inexorably to the events we associate with the climax to Holy Week, and the triumph of Easter Day. The world will never be the same again.
FINAL PRAYER: Jim Cotter “ Unfolding the Living Word”
Piercing Presence,
revealing to us the secrets of our hearts,
and bearing the pain of our betrayals,
be with us when we realise
that the night has engulfed us;
do not let us sink into despair,
and keep alive in us the Spirit of the One
who indeed bore the cost of love,
enduring to the end…………………
Amen