Tuesday of Holy Week
In today’s Gospel, Jesus anticipates that he will be abandoned—Judas betrays him, Peter will deny him, his disciples will leave him when he is crucified. At his condemnation and death, only a few people stay with him including his mother, the Beloved Disciple, and one or two women disciples. Almost all the people who have been with him for years in his ministry desert him. In telling the stories of those who abandoned, betrayed, and/or denied Jesus, the Gospel writer poses this question back to the reader: Will you leave and betray Jesus too?
Hopefully, since you are reading this reflection and I wrote it, our answer is no. However, Peter also said that he will not abandon Jesus. Therefore, what can we learn from Judas and Peter? Both men found it difficult to stay with Jesus. In our day, it is also hard to follow Jesus. He calls us to do challenging things that often go beyond our comfort zone or are contrary to the world’s values. Nonetheless, we also learn that God is merciful. Peter denied Jesus three times, but Jesus forgave him anyway and made him the first Pope. Discipleship calls us to have fidelity to Jesus and trust in God even when times are difficult and chaotic. Even if we stray, God will call us back. Like Peter, we should strive to be a better disciple after receiving God’s mercy. To be “a light to the nations” (from today’s first reading: Isaiah 49:6) is to be a witness to God’s mercy in our lives and the hope that it brings.
—Sr. Emily Sandoval, FMI