“Will you lay down your life for me?
Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow
before you deny me three times.” (Jn 13:38)
Betrayal is a very real part of our lives. We all probably have experienced being betrayed at one time or another in our lives. It is not pleasant or pretty.
It is painful and ugly.
Sadly, it is also a part of our sordid human condition.
Even when we think that we can rise above it, we find ourselves mired down.
At the Last Supper, Jesus told his Apostles that one of them would betray Him. Of course, the ultimate betrayer in that room was Judas Iscariot.
However, there were others in that room who would “betray” Him as well. Sure, they may not have sold Him out to the authorities. However, when the time came for His arrest, most would flee from His presence.
Peter, one of the Lord’s closest — and Jesus’ chosen, hand-picked “rock” of the Church — betrayed Jesus by his denial. Not just once, but, three times.
The difference between Peter and Judas, however?
Quite simply, one went back to the Lord seeking forgiveness and the other could not bring himself to go back. One was brought back into the fold. The other hung himself on a tree. Ironic, since Jesus died on a tree.
These days of Holy Week are quite painful in that, if we live them as we should, they show us the areas in our lives where we sin, where we fail, where we betray the Lord.
Moved to sorrow, we ask the Lord to forgive us our failings and to bring us back into His fold.
Do not turn your back on the Lord’s healing love as Judas did. Instead, seek His forgiveness, His peace.
FAITH ACTION: “One of you will betray me.” This news was very disturbing to the Apostles and they rushed to assure the Lord of their allegiance. Yet, Jesus told Peter that he would deny the Lord three times that very night. And Peter did. We betray the Lord whenever we choose to sin. Let us do all that we can not to betray the Lord this day.
Penance Service tonight at 7:00 p.m.
Holy Name Church, Cedar Lake