March 30, 2021

Jn 13: 21-33, 36-38

After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” 

So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival”; or, that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for 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 will follow afterward.” Peter said to him, “Lord, 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? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

Able to receive Jesus’ love

What might Saint John have felt as he leaned against Jesus’ chest? He had grown so close to Jesus over the past three years. They must have spent countless hours together laughing, sharing stories, witnessing Jesus’ miracles. From the healing of those cast out, to the raising of Lazarus from the dead, John must have been overwhelmed by the love he saw in Jesus. All of these memories had led John in turn to love Jesus. So much so that he felt comfortable getting close to Jesus’ heart. This desire to give love ends with John receiving it himself. It gives him the strength to be with Mary at the foot of the cross the next day. 

How can love fuel us to stand by others in great pain? How can we give in order to receive?

—Alex Hale, SJ, is a Jesuit scholastic from the Midwest Province studying philosophy at Loyola University Chicago.

 

Prayer

Jesus, you allow us to get so close to you, even though we are sinners. Allow us today to receive your love so that, like St. John, we may go forth and show love to all those around us. Amen.

—Alex Hale, SJ

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