12 April 2022
Tuesday of Holy Week
Surrounded by his intimate friends, Jesus announced that one of them would betray him. Horrified, Peter asked John to find our who it was. Jesus identified the man to John, his most intimate chosen one among the apostles.
To live in intimacy with Jesus is to accept the terrible sufferings of the Church that continue his passion. The number of those abandoning the faith today, particularly among the young, is an invitation for us to pray daily to him, who announced sorrowfully that one of his special friends would betray him.
After Judas left the table, Jesus began his last conversation with his specially chosen companions. He taught them that in order to enter into glory, he had to undergo suffering and death. It shouldn’t be surprising that they had problems understanding, even though they had been with him for such a long time.
Peter assured him that he would remain faithful, only to have Jesus remind him of his weakness, which he instinctively denied. How easy it is to convince myself that, despite the weakness of others and those who deny him, I will remain strong.
A practical remedy of this self-deception is to follow Jesus closely in what he says and does during this Holy Week.