'Living Lent': Tuesday of Holy Week

PRAY:
"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." (Psalm 71:1-2)

READING: John 13:21-38

21 Having said this, Jesus was deeply disturbed and declared, 'In all truth I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.'

22 The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he meant.

23 The disciple Jesus loved was reclining next to Jesus;

24 Simon Peter signed to him and said, 'Ask who it is he means,'

25 so leaning back close to Jesus' chest he said, 'Who is it, Lord?'

26 Jesus answered, 'It is the one to whom I give the piece of bread that I dip in the dish.' And when he had dipped the piece of bread he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.

27 At that instant, after Judas had taken the bread, Satan entered him. Jesus then said, 'What you are going to do, do quickly.'

28 None of the others at table understood why he said this.

29 Since Judas had charge of the common fund, some of them thought Jesus was telling him, 'Buy what we need for the festival,' or telling him to give something to the poor.

30 As soon as Judas had taken the piece of bread he went out. It was night.

31 When he had gone, Jesus said: Now has the Son of man been glorified, and in him God has been glorified.

32 If God has been glorified in him, God will in turn glorify him in himself, and will glorify him very soon.

33 Little children, I shall be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and, as I told the Jews, where I am going, you cannot come.

34 I give you a new commandment: love one another; you must love one another just as I have loved you.

35 It is by your love for one another, that everyone will recognise you as my disciples.

36 Simon Peter said, 'Lord, where are you going?' Jesus replied, 'Now you cannot follow me where I am going, but later you shall follow me.'

37 Peter said to him, 'Why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.'

38 'Lay down your life for me?' answered Jesus. 'In all truth I tell you, before the cock crows you will have disowned me three times.'

MEDITATION:
Peter would deny Jesus three times, yet he would be forgiven. He would even go on to become the first pope of Jesus' Church. Had Judas asked for forgiveness, he too would have been forgiven! As Pope Francis said, "The Lord never tires of forgiving us." The truth is, we are the ones who grow tired. We tire of asking for forgiveness, or we assume we are not worthy. What a terrible assumption that is, because God sent his only son to die for our forgiveness! He would not have done this if we were unworthy.

LET US PRAY:
Lord, I am worthy of your forgiveness. You created me to live with you forever. Please forgive my sins. I am truly sorry for what I have done and what I have failed to do. I ask you to forgive me, as I prepare for the return of your Son.

ACT:
I will make an effort to attend confession one last time before Easter.

Note: Confessions can be heard on Holy Saturday, but many parish priests are very busy from Holy Thursday to Easter, making it difficult for them to offer the sacrament of reconciliation. It is important to seek confession as soon as possible.