MY daily reflection and prayer:
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
The Holy Week
Dear my friends,
Here is the Gospel for us today according to St. John 13:21-33,36-38
When Jesus had thus spoken, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was lying close to the breast of Jesus; so Simon Peter beckoned to him and said, “Tell us who it is of whom he speaks.” So lying thus, close to the breast of Jesus, he said to him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give this morsel when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Then after the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the money box, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast”; or, that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the morsel, he immediately went out; and it was night.
When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of man glorified, and in him God is glorified; if God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to 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 you shall follow afterward.” Peter said to him, “Lord, why cannot I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the cock will not crow, till you have denied me three times.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
***
IN today’s Gospel Peter says to Jesus, “I will lay down my life for you.” We know that Peter loves Jesus. He feels the strength of his love and doesn’t hesitate to proclaim that he is willing to die for Jesus.
But Jesus answers, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the cock will not crow, till you have denied me three times.” What does it mean? Peter has serious intention to make sacrifices for Jesus’ sake; but there is something he still lacks. At times he may feel so ready to take on anything for love of Christ; but as soon as the anything comes, he experiences his weakness.
What Jesus says to Peter is also intended to each of us. Like Peter, we may think not as God, but as men. Yet as we know, Peter will succeed in the end to become humble and to serve his Lord steadfastly. We make lots of mistakes every day. In the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist while worshipping Jesus Christ we ask him to love him more and more despite our weaknesses.
Let’s pray: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, like Peter we have fallen many times. Every time it was because we put our trust in ourselves rather than in you. Help us to listen to your inspirations and your inner promptings to prayer now and forever. Amen.
Kredit foto: Ilustrasi (Ist)
