Tuesday of Holy Week
“Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” (Jn. 13:21b) The Gospel goes on to tell us that those gathered for the Last Supper are at a total and complete loss by this proclamation from Jesus. They begin to look at one another in astonishment and disbelief that one of them would hand over their friend for execution.
Two thousand years later it is common knowledge that Judas betrayed Jesus. So, we are unsurprised by the actions of Judas. Conscious of our perspective, it is helpful for us to recall that Judas was the keeper of the money bag. He held a position that required great trust from the rest of the group. Certainly, this trust deepened the wound when the Apostles realized Judas betrayed Jesus.
Judas was not the only one who betrayed Jesus. We are reminded at the end of this Gospel, Peter, who is often the spokesperson for the group, who wanted to remain on the mountain after the Transfiguration, and who goes on to become the first Pope, will also betray Jesus. He betrayed him by denying any affiliation with Jesus, not only once but three times within the next few hours.
When we are betrayed or even when we see someone else betrayed it is often difficult for us to handle and take in. The violation we feel from betrayal is compounded when our betrayer is someone close to us, someone who we could not fathom causing us pain and misery.
Yet in our suffering, we are still all called to Discipleship -- to respond to betrayal with mercy. Betrayal (no matter how much we may desire it to) does not void Jesus’s command to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. This week we will be reminded in many ways that our call to Discipleship is a call to carry our cross, but we mustn’t forget the end, and the cross is not the end. We must not forget where carrying the cross leads us.
There is an Easter. There is Resurrection. There is life after death.
Our faith in this lets us carry on even when those who we trust and love the most let us down.
Lord, we come to you, as we are. Often times we are broken and wounded by those who we love the most. There are also times Lord, where we are the ones who do the breaking. Forgive us the times we have betrayed those in our lives. We ask also for your forgiveness in those times we betray you and the times where we have failed to acknowledge you. We ask that you grant us strength to carry on. To continue in our mission to be the best disciples we can be. Help us to persevere through our suffering and pain. Please Lord, continue to lead us on the path to eternal life. We ask all of this through your loving Son, the face of your mercy, Jesus. Amen.
-Will Marsh