Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: March 26, 2024

Date:   Tuesday of Holy Week

Scripture Text:  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 money bag, 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."

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel reading for today is taken from the Gospel of John and recounts Jesus’ conversation with the disciples immediately following his washing of the disciples’ feet at their Last Supper together. Jesus knows of the betrayal that will completely unfold later that day and shares his awareness with the disciples. They, however, do not comprehend what He is trying to warn them of in the coming hours.

Jesus warns the disciples that His time has come. As always, the disciples do not understand His pronouncements about the Son of Man being glorified; it is only after Easter and His resurrection, that they truly come to understand all that Jesus has told them and shown them.

Simon Peter promises t follow Jesus no matter what, even offering to lay down his own life for that of Jesus. Jesus knows better and reveals that Peter will deny even knowing Christ to save himself that very night.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I fool myself about my relationship with my LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ? Am I truly a loving and faithful disciple? Or do I buckle when the way becomes difficult?

Praying:

LORD, Jesus Christ, You told us, “whoever wishes to follow me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” LORD, you know that is my desire and that daily I seek to accept that which is mine to bear and to follow in your footsteps. But, You also know that I am weak, that I allow difficulties and obstacles to deter me, to distract me, to detract from my desire to lovingly follow wherever You lead. Send your Spirit to increase my faith, to magnify my hope, and to deepen my love so that I might grow into the one you call me to be this day and all days. I do believe, LORD, help my disbelief. Amen