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April 17, 2014

The narration of the betrayal describes in detail the treachery of Judas. The name of Judas carries such a stigma that no one would ever want to name any child Judas. Even with civil authorities, treason and treachery carry a grave punishment. To be Judas is also associated with being a traitor – a figure to be despised. And yet in Scripture, there is another disciple known to be a traitor.

It is in the figure of Peter, the one whom Jesus handed the keys of the Church. Peter denied knowing Jesus not just once, but thrice. These two figures who betrayed Christ had their own reasons for betraying and denying him. Both of them betrayed, denied Jesus and both of them also regretted after. The main difference is that while Judas took his own life, Peter just wept bitterly and relied on the mercy of the Lord. No one exactly knows the fate of Judas. But we do know that Christ forgave our sins to save mankind.

We have two paths to take when we commit sin. We can either get discouraged and think we are hopeless or we can, as Peter did, repent and be assured of the infinite mercy of the Father.

One Bread, One Body

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All Issues > Volume 30, Issue 3

<< Thursday, April 17, 2014 >>

Holy Thursday

Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
View Readings

Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18
John 13:1-15
Similar Reflections

AMAZING LOVE

"The Lord Jesus on the night in which He was betrayed took bread, and after He had given thanks, broke it and said, 'This is My body, which is for you.' " —1 Corinthians 11:23-24

God became a human being. "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us" (Jn 1:14). The Lord emptied Himself (Phil 2:7). He became like us in all things but sin (Heb 4:15). God became a human embryo, baby, toddler, little child, teenager, etc. God washed the feet of His disciples (Jn 13:5) and continues to do so today (see Heb 13:8). God emptied and humbled Himself even to death on a cross (Phil 2:8).

Then the God-Man did the unthinkable. He emptied and humbled Himself to the point that He gave us His body and blood, His soul and divinity under the appearances of bread and wine. In the Eucharist, Jesus, Who had emptied Himself of His divinity, now appears to have emptied Himself even of His humanity. When Jesus took a piece of bread and a cup of wine and said: "This is My body. This is My blood" (see 1 Cor 11:24, 25), He uttered one of the most shocking statements ever made.

Why the Incarnation? Why the Crucifixion? Why the Eucharist? "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him may not die but may have eternal life" (Jn 3:16). "God is Love" (1 Jn 4:16). Love Him.

Prayer: God, Love incarnate (1 Jn 4:16), I decide to love You with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength (Lk 10:27). May I love You with all my life, as You mean "all."

Promise: "This day shall be a memorial feast for you, which all your generations shall celebrate with pilgrimage to the Lord, as a perpetual institution." —Ex 12:14

Praise: "O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine."