Monday, April 10, 2006
Tuesday in Holy Week
April 11, 2006
Tuesday in Holy Week - Yr II
ISAIAH 49:1-6
Hear me, O islands, listen, O distant peoples. The LORD called me from
birth, from my mother's womb he gave me my name. He made of me a
sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm. He made me
a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me. You are my servant, he said
to me, Israel, through whom I show my glory. Though I thought I had
toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, Yet my
reward is with the LORD, my recompense is with my God. For now the LORD
has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb, That Jacob may
be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him; And I am made
glorious in the sight of the LORD, and my God is now my strength! It is
too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes
of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light
to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.
JOHN 13:21-33, 36-38
Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and
testified, "Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me." The
disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant. One of
his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus' side.
So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant. He leaned back
against Jesus' chest and said to him, "Master, who is it?" Jesus
answered, "It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped
it." So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of
Simon the Iscariot. After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. So
Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly." Now none of
those reclining at table realized why he said this to him. Some thought
that since Judas kept the moneybag, Jesus had told him, "Buy what we
need for the feast," or to give something to the poor. So Judas took
the morsel and left at once. And it was night. When he had left, Jesus
said, "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. My children, I will be with you only a little
while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, 'Where I go
you cannot come,' so now I say it to you." 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."
REFLECTION
The Gospel selections for the first three days of Holy Week are heavy
with tragedy; not the tragedy of Christ and his violent death at the
hands of the men for whom he died, but the tragedy of Judas who
betrayed the man who loved him. The tragic figure of Judas Iscariot
stalks through these Gospels, dominating them, weighing them with
anguish and pain.
Today's and tomorrow's Gospel readings focus on the most tragic act of
all - Judas' betrayal of Jesus - as told by the evangelists John and
Matthew.
Why this heavy emphasis on the person of Judas, and on his tragic act
of betrayal on the first three days of Holy Week? Would it not be
better and far more devotional for the Church to center her and our
attention on Christ, on his love for us, on his incomparable love for
us: his laying down his life for his friends? But no-the Church, year
after year, comes back during the first three days of Holy Week to
Judas and his act of betrayal. Why?
It seems as though the Church down through the ages has been struggling
and struggles still, to understand. How could it be possible that a man
chosen by Jesus, loved by Jesus, invited by him into the intimacy of
his fellowship would turn on Jesus and betray him? How? Why?
The answer to this question will not be found by analyzing, meditating
on, poring over the Gospel texts. The answer is not written there. It
is written within us, in our hearts.
For we, too, have been called by Jesus, loved and redeemed by him,
admitted into intimate association with him through prayer and the
sacraments. And yet, we allow the attraction of material things, of
wealth, of power, of pleasure, of good living, lead us into compromises
with and even betrayal of Jesus' principles and ideals.
Perhaps this is why the Church focuses on the tragedy of Judas early in
Holy Week: to lead us to look at the Judas within us. We might then be
able to exorcise this Judas, by expressing sorrow and seeking
forgiveness. If we do go through this process of conversion early in
Holy Week, we will be able to accompany the Lord with greater sympathy
and empathy, as we relive his passion and resurrection once again this
year.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
- for the personal intentions of Charles and Cheryl C.
- for the speedy recovery of Mother Dolores Santos, O.P.
- for the eternal repose of the soul of Jeanne B. Francisco. Eternal
rest grant unto her and may perpetual light shine upon her.
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Rita Ong
- Birthday: Acero Alvinio Cu
- Birthday: David Stanley G. Choa
- Birthday: Avelina VS Mallonga
- Wedding Anniversary: Barbara & David Lim
- In Memoriam (+): Visitacion de la Pena
- In Memoriam (+): Ordonio de la Pena
- In Memoriam (+): Jerry Vista
- for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our
prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "DAILY-HOMILY" group.
To subscribe email: dailyhomily@gmail.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to Daily_Homily-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Daily_Homily
HOME: http://www.stjosephkingston.org/
Feel free to forward this to your frie nds, family and associates!
� 2006 Daily-Homily
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
