Gospel Reading: John 13:21-38
In today's gospel, Jesus predicts his betrayal of Judas and his denial by Peter. The Mass gospels this week focus on the specific events with Holy Week. Here we are at the last supper and Jesus is showing his knowledge of men and events. We are a strange lot. Full of enthusiasm one minute and traitors the next. Peter and Judas were both very close to Jesus and both disowned him. Peter wept bitterly when the cock crowed; Judas went out and hanged himself. Such a difference. Peter repented, Judas despaired. In this short passage from John we see all of human weakness. Peter and Judas sat in the presence of God. Judas could not accept this fact and sold Jesus for the price of a slave. Peter was still too human, (he had not yet received the Holy Spirit), too natural in his way of thinking to understand fully who Jesus was. But Peter did know that no matter what he did he could always go back to his Lord. That's really what these stories are about for us. The fact that Jesus is never out of bounds, no matter what we do. He may not like what we do but he never turns his back on us. Poor Judas could not believe this. Peter's tears on Good Friday morning broke his heart enough to allow the memory of Jesus' love shine into him. There is something about Jesus that we cannot resist, something in him that pulls us ever towards him. Peter, even in his sin, was open to this pull. We can all feel it. That is why Jesus fascinates us so much and it is why Holy Week is so important, for it is in Holy Week that we see the answer to this conundrum!
In today's gospel, Jesus predicts his betrayal of Judas and his denial by Peter. The Mass gospels this week focus on the specific events with Holy Week. Here we are at the last supper and Jesus is showing his knowledge of men and events. We are a strange lot. Full of enthusiasm one minute and traitors the next. Peter and Judas were both very close to Jesus and both disowned him. Peter wept bitterly when the cock crowed; Judas went out and hanged himself. Such a difference. Peter repented, Judas despaired. In this short passage from John we see all of human weakness. Peter and Judas sat in the presence of God. Judas could not accept this fact and sold Jesus for the price of a slave. Peter was still too human, (he had not yet received the Holy Spirit), too natural in his way of thinking to understand fully who Jesus was. But Peter did know that no matter what he did he could always go back to his Lord. That's really what these stories are about for us. The fact that Jesus is never out of bounds, no matter what we do. He may not like what we do but he never turns his back on us. Poor Judas could not believe this. Peter's tears on Good Friday morning broke his heart enough to allow the memory of Jesus' love shine into him. There is something about Jesus that we cannot resist, something in him that pulls us ever towards him. Peter, even in his sin, was open to this pull. We can all feel it. That is why Jesus fascinates us so much and it is why Holy Week is so important, for it is in Holy Week that we see the answer to this conundrum!
