Who is standing in for Jesus

When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them:
“Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master
nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.
If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.
I am not speaking of all of you.
I know those whom I have chosen.
But so that the Scripture might be fulfilled,
The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me.
From now on I am telling you before it happens,
so that when it happens you may believe that I AM.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send
receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
John 13:16-20 (NAB)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father Jesus had a tough time when he found betrayal in one of the ones that were chosen. He knew what was to come and he told them so they would believe. He does that with us too, he gives us snippets of things to show us the Truth of your Word. I was captured by the words Jesus spoke in this Gospel message, "The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me." Don't we do this to Jesus too when we receive communion and go out the doors from his sanctuary and gossip with our neighbors. Or commit sins and fail to reconcile ourselves in the sacrament of Penance. In this sense aren't we doing the same as the one who betrayed Jesus. It's amazing that in our Parishes we have Priest who took on the role to live in imitation of Christ, but many have failed to receive the ones Jesus sends us, they leave and turn their backs on the Church when the Truth is spoken through them. Thinking about the many people who leave parishes because they clash with their pastors, did they understand this Gospel and the last words spoken. Probably not and they also failed to receive Jesus in those moments.

The Actual Betrayal

Then went one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, to the chief priests, And said to them: What will you give me, and I will deliver him unto you? But they appointed him thirty pieces of silver. And from thenceforth he sought opportunity to betray him. And on the first day of the Azymes, the disciples came to Jesus, saying: Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the pasch? But Jesus said: Go ye into the city to a certain man, and say to him: the master saith, My time is near at hand, with thee I make the pasch with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus appointed to them, and they prepared the pasch. But when it was evening, he sat down with his twelve disciples. And whilst they were eating, he said: Amen I say to you, that one of you is about to betray me.

And they being very much troubled, began every one to say: Is it I, Lord? But he answering, said: He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, he shall betray me. The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man shall be betrayed: it were better for him, if that man had not been born. And Judas that betrayed him, answering, said: Is it I, Rabbi? He saith to him: Thou hast said it.
Matthew 26:14-25 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father to read the account of the actual betrayal should warn us about the repercussions. How many of us have actually betrayed another or for that matter witnessed one. But it is worse if we have done it to you dear Father and to your son. It truly would be better if we weren't born then. I don't know how it feels to betray a person, I can only imagine what a soul goes through. But when a person does this to another, it's easy to see the change they undergo. In the workforce many betray their coworkers daily. Not in the effect that they might be stealing, but more in the fashion of gaining a better position for more money. It's amazing to see how they fidget and change in their demeanor when they do this. How can a conscience live in you dear Father when it's like this. One can only imagine then, the fate Judas comes to because his betrayal was far worse than what people do to each other. His was to Jesus. We have such a beautiful gift of the sacrament of Reconciliation for the many, many souls who perform acts as these to help in cleansing their conscience as well as their souls. Love does conquer!

Betrayal

When Jesus had said these things, he was troubled in spirit; and he testified, and said: Amen, amen I say to you, one of you shall betray me. The disciples therefore looked one upon another, doubting of whom he spoke. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, and said to him: Who is it of whom he speaketh? He therefore, leaning on the breast of Jesus, saith to him: Lord, who is it? Jesus answered: He it is to whom I shall reach bread dipped. And when he had dipped the bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the morsel, Satan entered into him. And Jesus said to him: That which thou dost, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew to what purpose he said this unto him. For some thought, because Judas had the purse, that Jesus had said to him: Buy those things which we have need of for the festival day: or that he should give something to the poor. He therefore having received the morsel, went out immediately. And it was night. When he therefore was gone out, Jesus said: Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, God also will glorify him in himself; and immediately will he glorify him. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You shall seek me; and as I said to the Jews: Whither I go you cannot come; so I say to you now.

Simon Peter saith to him: Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered: Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow hereafter. Peter saith to him: Why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thee. Jesus answered him: Wilt thou lay down thy life for me? Amen, amen I say to thee, the cock shall not crow, till thou deny me thrice.
John 13:21-33, 36-38 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father if we ever think our life has lots of problems all we have to do is turn to the readings that speak of the betrayal and denials of your Son. We too tend to betray and deny both you and him when we seek to do our own thing. Do we ever think when we take care of others, how often we betray them when we speak to others of their confidences to us. Or how we manipulate to gain information to hurt another. Many wars are in this way. Jesus trusted even though Judas betrayed Him, he loved rather than hated. How easy it would have been for Jesus to hate all those who went against Him, yet He never did. All he ever did was love and care for us to undergo the severe trials that were put to Him. Do we handle our daily trials with this type of grace, with trust that you, our dear Father will get us through it. So when we think of betraying or denying anyone or vice or versa, think of what Jesus went through as well.

Wednesday of Holy Week

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot,
went to the chief priests and said,
“What are you willing to give me
if I hand him over to you?”
They paid him thirty pieces of silver,
and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
the disciples approached Jesus and said,
“Where do you want us to prepare
for you to eat the Passover?”
He said,
“Go into the city to a certain man and tell him,
‘The teacher says, “My appointed time draws near;
in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”‘“
The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered,
and prepared the Passover.

When it was evening,
he reclined at table with the Twelve.
And while they were eating, he said,
“Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”
Deeply distressed at this,
they began to say to him one after another,
“Surely it is not I, Lord?”
He said in reply,
“He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me
is the one who will betray me.
The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him,
but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed.
It would be better for that man if he had never been born.”
Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply,
“Surely it is not I, Rabbi?”
He answered, “You have said so.”
Matthew 26:14-25

Prayer

Dear Father Jesus' appointed time draws near. I pray for the strength to go on the journey everyday. Embarking on a path that is sometimes perilous and full of trials. Woe to me, should I betray my Lord and Savior and worship what should be a way of help for me. Your strength dear Father enables me to love, honor and obey you in all I do. Let us all strive to conquer what takes us away from you, what Judas had done to betray you. Amen