My Thoughts 12/04/2022
In the Gospel today we have Judas the disciple who betrays Jesus and Peter the disciple whom Jesus predicts will betray him. Jesus is being troubled in Spirit while he eats with his disciples at the Last Supper and he tells them that someone is to betray him. He passes a piece of bread to Judas and we are told at that instant “Satan enters him”. Jesus then says: ‘What you are going to do, do quickly.” As soon as Judas had taken the piece of bread he went out. Night had fallen.
Judas is a complex character and other forms of his name are Jude and Judah. The word may mean “The Lord be praised”. He is the only disciple that was not from Galilee. He was the treasurer of the group. He was a man who for three years, ate and slept in Jesus’ company and heard his words and saw his healings. Yet in the end, he decided the betray him. Perhaps Jesus did not live up to his expectations. He realised that all would end in disaster. He decided to make some money out of his negotiations with the Sanhedrin. Although close to Jesus he was never fully committed.
Peter was fully committed and when he said to Jesus, ‘Why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.’ ‘Lay down your life for me?’ answered Jesus. ‘I tell you most solemnly before the cock crows you will have disowned me three times.’ Later when challenged he denied Jesus. “I do not know the man”.
Today we have two men who failed as friends and companions of Jesus. Both later regretted what they had done. One was to despair and the other was able to be embraced by God’s
Mercy and healing. Let us pray for all who struggle in their discipleship. Lord help me to understand that nothing I do or say will put me beyond the loving mercy of God.