AD SENSE

Tuesday of Holy Week, 16-04-19

Isaiah 49:1-6 / John 13:21-33, 36-38

Jesus talks about betrayal

The disciples were amazed at Jesus’ words.
The surprising thing about Judas’ plan to betray Jesus
is that the other disciples had no idea of it. How could they have lived so close to Judas and been so blind to what was going on in his mind? There are two lessons here.

First, our external words and actions may deceive others,
but they will never deceive God.
Second, the day will come when everyone will know what is in our heart. For it is a law of human nature that what is in our heart will eventually usher forth into action. Do we really believe that God knows our innermost thoughts?
What effect ought this to have on us? “Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart.” l Samuel 16:7
***
It is rather amazing as well disturbing to see how cold and calculating Judas was at the Last Supper.

In the gospel passage that we heard (the gospel of John), there was no recorded words of Judas.

He didn't say anything, he acted normal, he did what he was told. Yet, behind and beneath that facade the shadows of betrayal are lurking and slithering around.

Yet for that to be happening in him during the Last Supper was unthinkable to the rest because it was for them the sacred Passover meal which celebrated the marvelous event of freedom from slavery in Egypt and the renewal of God's covenant with His people.

Jesus sensed that betrayal and treachery, and troubled in spirit, He said: I tell you most solemnly, one of you will betray me.

He was even more direct when He said that it was the one to whom He gave the piece of bread that He shall dip in the dish, and thereafter He gave it to Judas.

Judas was the Apostle most in need of Jesus' love that night.  It was the last opportunity for Judas to turn from sin and turn to Jesus. But he rejected Jesus for the final time.

Instead of softening Judas' heart the gesture seemed to harden it and thereby he gave himself completely over into Satan's power.

As for ourselves, we cannot say that there is no sin in us. Every sin is a betrayal of the love of Jesus for us and to receive Holy Communion with a grave sin is as bad as what happened to Judas after he had taken the piece of bread from Jesus - the devil enters into the heart.

So let us take the Sacrament of Reconciliation seriously and resolve to stay clean of sin and keep united with Jesus in Holy Communion. Let us be true to Jesus, so that we can be true to ourselves and to others.