Reflections on the Readings of the Day - 7th April 2020

(Holy Week/Last Week of Lent)

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First Reading: Isaiah 49: 1-6
Res. Psalm: Psalm 71: 1-2. 3-4a. 5-6ab & 17 (R.15ab)
The verse before the Gospel: Hail our King! Obedient to the Father; You were led to Crucifixion like a meek lamb to the slaughter.
Gospel: John 13: 21-33. 36-38
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Hello Readers!

The first reading speaks of Jesus through the mouth of the Prophet Isaiah. Jesus was brought into this world for a purpose - to bring God's people back to Him by restoring the once perfect relationship that was torn by Sin. 

Sin can simply be defined as Man's free will (choice) to not trust God. Every act of Sin stems from disobedience to God's word, and this is usually as a result of a lack of trust in God.  The root cause of theft is the lack of trust in God to meet our needs. The root cause of greed is the lack of trust in God to sustain us if we share what we have.  The root cause of telling lies is the lack of trust in God to be able to deliver us and save us when we tell the truth in every circumstance, even if it may clearly come with some discomfort. The root cause of adultery is the lack of trust in God being able to fill our pleasurable desires through our God-given spouse. 

We sin because we do not trust God.

This is the reason why Jesus became flesh. God came to dwell amongst us, to show us what it is like to trust in God and how to maintain the relationship that would be restored by His great sacrifice on Calvary.

This Sacrifice is so great that God decided that redeeming just Isreal, was a waste of it, and so, it would redeem & restore all nations - the whole of mankind to Himself. (Isaiah 49:6)

Jesus Christ is the reason why you and I have the boldness and privilege to address God Almighty; The Just Judge, The Creator of the Universe - Our Father.

Jesus, the Divine One was also 100% human ... He wasn't immune to Pain nor Heartache 

In the Gospel account of today, we see Jesus distressed about his impending suffering and death. The very thought of being betrayed by one of His own must have been devastating. It is known that the pain that hurts most is that caused by a loved one and not a stranger. Let us understand this - Jesus was betrayed by his most trusted disciple; Judas. He was so trusted that he was the one who kept their common purse. We can agree that it is the one you trust that you will appoint as your CFO (chief financial officer) or treasurer, right?

Jesus was so distraught that He didn't even hide the truth from His beloved disciple.  Jesus is known to have a habit of speaking in parables, yet he did not hide this one or say it discreetly. He even told Judas that He knew what he had planned to do and had also mentioned how unfortunate it would be for the one who would be used to betray the Son of Man. Yet, Judas chose not to have a change of heart. Judas was a willing instrument to be used to betray Jesus.  

A Choice

Judas Iscariot (right) leaving the last supper By Carl Bloch 

Scripture says that the devil entered Judas after he accepted the piece of bread from the hand of Jesus.  The very act of accepting that piece was Judas giving his consent to the evil one to enter him, as he had already resolved in his heart to betray his Master & Friend - JESUS. 

The devil cannot bend your will, posess or cause you to sin, if you have not given him the permission to do so. 

Yes, Scripture had it that one of the twelve would betray Jesus, and so rightfully named the betrayer as Judas, but remember the writer of the Gospel was re-telling the events and so before it actually happened, no one knew that it was Judas who would betray Jesus. This means that Judas had a choice. In your free time, you may do a little research about the meaning of the name Judas. It was a name that was highly sought in the history of the people back then. In Greek, the name meant Praise as well as in Hebrew (Judah; the praised one). The irony of having someone who bore the name; Praise, become the betrayer is quite unsettling. 

In every moment of our lives, we are always faced with choices - where we can choose to honour or betray our Lord.  It could be as simple as choosing to honour God in your spouse by helping out with preparing the kids in the morning or choosing to betray God in your spouse by spending your precious time lusting after a foreign man or woman. 

No one is immune to failing God. We all fall at some point in our lives. We are all broken. Peter denied Jesus, not once but three good times, just a few hours after declaring his undying love and loyalty in public. Peter and his other disciples fled from Jesus after his arrest. 

Jesus... the perfect human is the role model

Bringing this home to our lives, imagine for a moment, what it must have felt like to be in the shoes of Jesus at that moment. Having to deal with the great suffering that was awaiting Him, then knowing that he would be betrayed and abandoned by those he loved and had nurtured all through His ministry - these men witnessed every one of His miracles including His transfiguration! Distraught is too light a word to describe the sorrow He must have felt. Yet, as we see in the responsorial psalm of the day, it would seem the words of David (the man after God's own heart) were the prayers of Jesus (the Beloved Son of God) at his time of sorrow. I am beginning to notice that some of the psalms referred to Jesus - and this further validates the verse of John 1:1 - 'In the beginning, was the Word, and the word was with God, and the Word was God'. Jesus is the Word made Flesh and so, every Word of God that came to Man (in the old testament), was Jesus.

The words in the 3rd and 4th paragraphs of the responsorial psalm are spoken as thou they were the direct words of Jesus ... v6: 'from my mother's womb, You have been my help' (the flight to Egypt), v17: 'O God, You have taught me from my youth' (the finding of Jesus in the temple). 

Let us cling to Jesus and like him cry out to God for help, trusting and believing in His salvation/saving help, in times of sorrow, pain, persecution and difficult choices experienced as we live in the will of God. 

Let us always be quick to say, 'Jesus, Help Me!'

May the Word of God (a sure & steady harbour) abide within us. May His peace which surpasses all understanding, reign in our hearts and may the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in perfect peace, Amen.

#Shalom 💙