Tag: Judas

“He has been raised.” | Holy Saturday At the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter

From the responsorial psalm: “The right hand of the LORD has struck with power; the right hand of the LORD is exalted. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.”

All of the readings for the Easter Vigil can be found on The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041925.cfm

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 24:1-12).

They said to them, “Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised.”

Each of the seven readings of the Easter Vigil recount aspects of salvation history, touching on creation, God’s covenant with Abraham, the Exodus, and the promises of salvation that came from the lips of the prophets. In seven days, God carried out his plan of creation. In the epistle and Gospel reading, we see the fulfillment of God’s plan in the person of Jesus Christ, his Son. The Easter Vigil is the culmination of the Paschal Triduum and the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the Gospel, we are witnesses to this moment that breaks through all of salvation history into the present moment: the tomb is empty. In dying with Christ through baptism, we rise to new life. “For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his,” Saint Paul says, “we shall also be united with him in the resurrection.” According to his Father’s plan, Jesus destroys death forever and reconciles us, his Easter people, to God in his saving love and the hope of the resurrection.

God, help me fully take in the profound meaning of the Easter Vigil. With Mary Magdalene and the first witnesses of the resurrection, let me come to find the empty tomb and stand in awe and holy fear as I puzzle over it. In amazement at the mystery of the risen Christ, with Mary, the other women, and Peter, let me be astonished at what was at first believed to be nonsense, that what you promised is divine truth fulfilled. Throughout all of salvation history that led to his incarnation, your faithful plan was to bring us back to you through your Son’s death and resurrection. “You shall be my people,” you say through Isaiah, “and I will be your God.” Just as you created the world at the beginning of time, in the light of Christ a new creation dawns on Easter morning that breaks through the darkness of the empty tomb. Christ is risen! He is indeed risen!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Holy Thursday -Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper

From the responsorial psalm: “To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving, and I will call upon the name of the LORD. My vows to the LORD I will pay in the presence of all his people. Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 13:1-15, today’s readings)

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.”

During the Last Supper, Jesus puts all of his trust in the Father, fully aware, as John tells us, “that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God.” When Jesus approaches Peter to wash his feet, Peter misunderstands the significance of the act. Jesus responds by indicating that unless he washes Peter, he has no share with him. Jesus demonstrates the importance of humility and service to others in the kingdom of God. He says to the disciples, “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

God, the Father of Mercies, help me receive your mercy even as I do not fully understand its profound meaning in sanctifying me. When Jesus approaches Peter, he first refuses to allow Jesus to wash his feet. Open me to receive your mercy, Lord, in humility and gratitude. “How shall I make a return to the LORD,” the psalmist prays, “for all the good he has done for me?”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“Surely it is not I, Lord?” | Wednesday of Holy Week

From the responsorial psalm: “I will praise the name of God in song, and I will glorify him with thanksgiving: ‘See, you lowly ones, and be glad; you who seek God, may your hearts revive! For the LORD hears the poor, and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.’ Lord, in your great love, answer me.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 26:14-25, today’s readings)

When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?”

Matthew tells the story of Judas’s betrayal of Jesus. Aware of this, Jesus makes known that one of them will betray him. Having received payment from the chief priests, Judas’s response to Jesus seems odd: “Surely, it is not I, Rabbi.” Although he acknowledges Christ as his teacher, calling him Rabbi but not Lord, Judas at once denies his betrayal. Jesus holds a mirror up to Judas when he says, “You have said so.” In the same way, our inclination toward sin might cause us to deny willful participation in it even as we act on it. That’s the deep dysfunction that Jesus came to save us from, restoring us to God through his death and resurrection. In the verse before the Gospel, we hear his merciful response to sins that are ours, a cause to glorify him: “Hail to you, our King; you alone are compassionate with our errors.”

God, the betrayal of Judas is not an isolated event in the Gospel from long ago but relates to every person who struggles with sin and chooses that instead of choosing you. As he betrays Jesus, Judas not only pretends to be innocent but also deludes himself by thinking that he is not responsible for his choice to hand Jesus over. In choosing to do wrong with your gift of free will, Lord, how easy it is to betray you through sin, to reject you and deny responsibility. Give me the grace to stay with you at the table, even to be deeply distressed at the thought of betraying you, as the other disciples were. Keep me in your presence, Lord.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Wednesday of Holy Week

From the responsorial psalm: “I will praise the name of God in song, and I will glorify him with thanksgiving: “See, you lowly ones, and be glad; you who seek God, may your hearts revive! For the LORD hears the poor, and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.” Lord, in your great love, answer me.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 26:14-25)

When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.”

Jesus tells the disciples “My appointed time draws near,” and he celebrates the Passover with them. While they were eating, Jesus tells them that one of them will betray him. One by one the disciples deny that they will betray Jesus. “Surely it is not I, Lord?” When Jesus makes clear the consequences of failing to seek his mercy, as Peter did following his denial of Jesus, Judas also questions Jesus—”Surely it is not I, Rabbi?”—and later betrays him in the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas is not alone in his betrayal. In their weakness, each of the disciples also betrayed Jesus; only John remained with him at the foot of the cross. After the resurrection, all but Judas returned to Jesus to receive his mercy.

God, help me call to mind your presence today, that you are eternally present to me whether I am conscious of it at any given moment. In the decisions I face today, give me the grace to remain faithful to you and not weaken by turning away from your will and choosing to do wrong. “Surely it is not I, Lord?” Let that question be top of mind today as I face its opportunities and trials. “The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Tuesday of Holy Week

From the responsorial psalm: “In you, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your justice rescue me, and deliver me; incline your ear to me, and save me. I will sing of your salvation.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 13:21-33, 36-38)

Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.” Peter said to him, “Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”

Jesus tells the disciples that one of them will betray him. Peter asks Jesus which of them is the betrayer. In dipping the morsel, Judas gives the sign that he will betray Jesus. He tells him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” And Judas departs. But Judas is not the only one who betrays Jesus. Peter, the one who says he would lay down his life for Jesus, later denies him three times in the courtyard. Peter’s overconfident devotion to Jesus reveals human weakness. When Jesus questions Peter—”Will you lay down your life for me?”—it is not to shame him but to direct his total dependence on God to strengthen and sustain him. In later repenting, Peter affirms this dependence.

God, help me realize the extent of your mercy, not to presume it but to recognize sin for what it is and know the grace of reconciliation with you. Judas moves off stage in the Gospel, passing from light to darkness. Peter leans against Jesus’ chest in devotion to him. Yet, both fail through human weakness to remain loyal to Jesus. Help me see in Peter a model of contrition and dependence on you for the forgiveness of sins. I am in a helpless place, Lord, if I trust only my good will to see me through the day. Let me know your mercy and be merciful to others. “In you, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Holy Thursday—Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’  and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

On this day, the Church celebrates three important events: the institution of the Holy Eucharist, the institution of priestly ordination and service, and the commandment to love one another as God first loved us. In today’s Gospel, Jesus knows that his hour has come to depart from this world to the Father. When Jesus offers to wash the feet of the disciples, Peter objects, saying: “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answers, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” And Peter says, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” In washing the feet of the disciples, Jesus gives them a model to follow “so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” With this example of the humility and love of the master, what opportunities do I have today and every day to follow as a disciple?

God, my tendency is like Peter’s in objecting to allow Jesus to humble himself before me. Jesus says, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over.” Yet, like Judas I have betrayed your Son and feel undeserving of his love. Help me, God, accept that you want my soul to be clean all over. For that, I need to allow you to wash me in ways that are sometimes uncomfortable or inconvenient. In turn, by your Son’s example, teach me to love and serve others when it is inconvenient or when humility toward them seems undeserved.

Lord, help me derive from Holy Thursday a deeper understanding of the graces and sacraments that you pour forth from it. If I am overwhelmed in taking its meaning in, guide me to what aspect of it that is most necessary in my life right now. The Gospel acclamation says simply what today is about: “I give you a new commandment, says the Lord: love one another as I have loved you.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

https://youtu.be/2W-KSOPWWBY

Readings

Wednesday of Holy Week

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.

Today’s Gospel, as told by Matthew, relates the story of the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot. As the Twelve sit at the table with Jesus during the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, Jesus tells them to go into the city to a certain man in whose house they celebrated Passover. Jesus says to them while they were eating, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” They then begin to question which one of them is the betrayer. “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me,” Jesus says, warning them of the mortal consequences of betrayal. Then Judas says to Jesus, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” And he answers, “You have said so.” Judas is fully aware that he is betraying Jesus. In his conscience, he knows he is lying. In what ways do I betray Jesus, fully aware that I am being deceitful?

Lord, I am closer to Judas in betrayal than I am to Jesus in discipleship. Often, I fail to do what I know is right and do the wrong thing instead. Judas hanged himself for the unbearable remorse he felt in his betrayal that seemed to him greater than your mercy. In his threefold denial of Jesus, Peter would find in Jesus the relationship restored with his threefold question: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” The chief priests put a price on the head of Jesus, and Judas succumbed to betrayal for it. Time after time when I betray you, Lord, you restore me through your unfathomable mercy in the sacrament of reconciliation. Your Son paid the price for that at a cost I will never fully comprehend.

Merciful God, restore me with your loving presence. Grant me the wisdom to know the limited value of the things of this world and the grace of trusting in your limitless mercy.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

https://youtu.be/2W-KSOPWWBY

Readings

Tuesday of Holy Week

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.” Peter said to him, “Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”

These words from today’s Gospel follow Judas’s betrayal of Jesus. John tells us that after Judas took the morsel that Jesus gave him, Satan entered him. Jesus then tells Judas, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” When Judas leaves, Jesus says, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once.” He also tells them he will be with them only a little while longer. It seems at first odd that Jesus should say at this betrayal that he is glorified and that God is glorified in him. However, Jesus looks to the short time ahead when his death and resurrection will fulfill his Father’s will in bringing redemption and salvation to all.

God, what opportunities are there for me today that will give you glory? To know your will begins by first seeking and knowing it and then doing it. For me, it is impossible that every action of mine would reach that end. Help me understand that this is not something I can accomplish on my own but instead has to begin with you. Work with me today, God; work through me so that I allow you to work all things for the good. After betraying Jesus, Peter ultimately laid down his will and his life for Christ. Help me be faithful to you, Lord, through my thoughts, words, and actions.

Sometimes, Lord, I lose the opportunity to know your presence through silence, afraid that I’ll have little to measure against the yardstick of time. Teach me to be quiet, to want what you want, to accomplish your immeasurable will.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

https://youtu.be/2W-KSOPWWBY

Readings