First Reading - Isaiah 49:1-6
Gospel - John 13:21-38
Today's first reading gives us the Second Servant Song from the Book of Isaiah. This song of the servant focuses on the mission of the servant to bring back the people to the Lord. The re-gathering of the people as the mission of the servant refers to the people of Israel and other nations as well. The song proposes strikingly a new teaching of the servant to include other nations as his mission commissioned by God by bringing light and salvation to them. However, the song also underscores the failures of the servant to do so but he exudes confidence and trust in God despite all. The fusion of the mission of the servant to Israel and other nations paves the way to understand the role of the mission of Jesus to welcome all people, sinners and righteous alike, for their salvation. He always wanted to gather all, particularly the lost ones, to the Lord.
In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus’ loving appeal to two of his chosen Apostles, Judas and Peter, who represent hard-heartedness and repentance respectively. Judas was a perfect actor and an accomplished hypocrite who could hide his motives from all except Jesus. He deliberately betrayed Jesus for money. Peter on the other hand was simple at heart, a deeply emotional disciple who really loved Jesus.
(A) Judas – a model of hard-heartedness: Jesus showed his last act of love for Judas: a) by allowing him to sit at His left so that Jesus could rest His head on his chest during the Last Supper; b) by giving him a piece of bread dipped in sauce, from Jesus’ plate, as a sign of honor; c) by making Judas the treasurer of the group and the keeper of money received as an offering to the rabbi from the people, thus giving everyone a sign of his trust and confidence in Judas. But Jesus could not save Judas from his hard-heartedness and greed for money. Judas probably expected the triumphant Messiah in Jesus and hoped to rule Israel with him as his finance minister. If so, he must have been totally disillusioned when Jesus predicted his suffering and shameful death. This might have prompted him to betray Jesus. We, too, can become hard-hearted like Judas when we have become addicted to evil habits, and we can refuse Jesus’ call for repentance and conversion even during Holy Week.
(B) Peter – a model of true repentance: Peter showed good will and generosity in repenting of his sin – denying Jesus out of weakness – by weeping bitterly and finally by suffering a martyr’s death for his Faith in Jesus.
Dear friends, Jesus actualised the mission of the servant in himself by bringing the lost ones to Himself including the non-Jews. Today's gospel also shows that Jesus wanted to win Judas but due to the stubbornness of heart, Judas couldn't recognize it. He failed to be converted to God. Let's open our hearts to accept the mercy of God.
Let us imitate Peter by repenting of our choices against Jesus and his ideals in our day-to-day lives. Let us also ask God to liberate us from our evil habits and addictions before they make us hard-hearted. Just as Jesus considered death on the cross as his glory, let us consider humble, committed and sacrificial service for others as our glory and learn to love others as Jesus loves us.
May God enlighten us to see God's mercy in our lives.
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