DAILY- HOMILY

April 15, 2014
Tuesday of Holy Week

Is 49: 1-6 / Ps 71:1-2, 3-4a, 5ab-6ab, 15 and 17 / Jn 13: 21-33, 36-38   

Reading: Is 49: 1-6
Listen to me, O islands, pay attention, peoples from distant lands. Yahweh called me from my mother's womb; he pronounced my name before I was born. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword. He hid me in the shadow of his hand. He made me into a polished arrow set apart in his quiver. He said to me, "You are Israel, my servant, through you I will be known." "I have labored in vain," I thought and spent my strength for nothing." Yet what is due me was in the hand of Yahweh, and my reward was with my God. I am important in the sight of Yahweh, and my God is my strength. And now Yahweh has spoken, he who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, to gather Israel to him. He said: "It is not enough that you be my servant, to restore the tribes of Jacob, to bring back the remnant of Israel. I will make you the light of the nations, that my salvation will reach to the ends of the earth."   

Gospel: Jn 13: 21-33, 36-38
After saying this, Jesus was distressed in spirit and said plainly, "Truly, one of you will betray me." The disciples then looked at one another, wondering who he meant. One of the disciples, the one Jesus loved, was reclining near Jesus; so Simon Peter signaled him to ask Jesus whom he meant. And the disciple who was reclining near Jesus asked him, "Lord, who is it?" Jesus answered, "I shall dip a piece of bread in the dish, and he to whom I give it, is the one." So Jesus dipped the bread and gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And as Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus then said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly." None of the others reclining at table understood why Jesus said this to Judas. As he had the common purse, they may have thought that Jesus was telling him, "Buy what we need for the feast," or, "Give something to the poor." Judas left as soon as he had eaten the bread. It was night. When Judas had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. God will glorify him, and he will glorify him very soon. My children, I am with you for only a little while; you will look for me, but, as I already told the Jews, so now I tell you: where I am going you cannot come. Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, "Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but afterwards you will." Peter said, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I am ready to give my life for you." Jesus answered, "To give your life for me! Truly, I tell you, the cock will not crow before you have denied me three times."

Reflection:          
     It is a mystery that Christ chose Judas as one of his disciples even if he knew that Judas was to betray him. Knowing the plan of salvation that his Father had for all mankind which had to pass through the cross, Jesus accepted Judas to be among the Twelve.
     As the disciples asked Jesus in the other accounts of this gospel, "Is it I, Lord?" when he foretold the betrayal, we also need to ask Jesus, "Is it I, Lord?" for we can betray Christ like Judas or deny him like Peter. Every time we are used as the devil's tool to carry out his works, such as greed, promiscuity, slander - an endless list - we betray Christ. The devil easily deceives us with his empty promises but Christ has already overcome him so we can call on him to defend us. When we do betray or deny Christ, let us be like Peter who had a deep sorrow for his sins and be assured of Christ's endless mercy.

Prayer Requests:
We pray ...
... for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn
... for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary
... for families who are in need of healing and recovery
     * Virginia Hernandez, Ditas dela Paz, Fleur Torres, Tony Torres
     * John Paul de Castro, Glenn Dale Manson
... for personal intentions
    * Camille Torres, Beny & Joshua Chua, Julie Manzon
    * Escamilla and Barayoga Family
... for world peace and reconciliation
... for the eternal repose
     * Junjun Guingon, Salvador Escamilla Jr, Atty. Benjamin Ong

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!

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