Gospel: Jn 13:21-33, 36-38 

After saying this, Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very  truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22The disciples looked  at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. 23One of his  disciples — the one whom Jesus loved — was reclining next to him; 24Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he  was speaking. 25So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord,  who is it?” 26Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece  of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So when he had dipped  the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. 27After  he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to  him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” 28Now no one at the  table knew why he said this to him. 29Some thought that, because  Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we  need for the festival”; or, that he should give something to the poor.  30So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And  it was night. 31When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has  been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32If God has been  glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify  him at once. 33Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You  will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where  I am going, you cannot come.’” . . .36Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?”  Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but  you will follow afterward.” 37Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not  follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38Jesus answered,  “Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the  cock crows, you will have denied me three times.”

REFLECTION

Nowhere in the Gospel is the interplay between human  freedom and divine vulnerable love more dramatically  portrayed than in this scene of the last supper. Judas has  freely chosen to align himself with the forces of darkness. Jesus makes  the last attempt to draw him back into the sphere of his love and the  fellowship with his disciples. Handing Judas the dipped morsel is a  gesture of deep affection. Judas outwardly accepts the morsel, but  interiorly spurns his Master’s love. But divine vulnerable love can  turn even the tragic choice of human freedom and direct it toward  the fulfillment of God’s saving plan. Though Judas allows himself to  become Satan’s instrument by handing Jesus over to his enemies, the  very death of Jesus will bring about Satan’s defeat and the triumph  of love.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, never let us stray from the sphere of your love nor from the  fellowship with other believers. Amen.