“NOW IS THE SON OF MAN GLORIFIED”

Reflection for Tuesday of Holy Week

(Is 49:1-6; Jn 13:21-13, 36-38)

Today we meditate on Jesus as His Hour approaches the more. For a long time He had a lot of arguments with the Chief priests, the Pharisee and the Scribes. There was a lot of external plot against Him. In the Gospel of today, Jesus’ faces a different kind of opposition, which deeply troubled him in spirit. While at table with His apostles, enjoying communion and sharing meal, Jesus declared, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” This sounded like a bombshell, and silence exploded among them. Suspicion and tension began to arise...Who among them could be harboring such unthinkable plot? So the Beloved Disciple asked, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give this morsel when I have dipped it.”

The words of the Psalmist came to mind:

“Even my best friend, the one I trusted most, the one who shared my food, has turned against me” (Ps 41:9). “If it were an enemy making fun of me, I could endure it; if it were an opponent boasting over me, I could hide myself from him. But it was you, my companion, my colleague and close friend. We had intimate talks with each other and worshiped together in the Temple” (Ps 55:12-14).

“So when He dipped the morsel, He gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot...” The Communion meal that supposed to bind them together became sieved out treacherous heart of Judas. Long before now, Judas held on to his ideology gain-making and taking advantage of others. He had opportunity of re-aligning his heart to Jesus over the years. He had been succeeding in his secret affairs until the Communion meal exposed him. Judas went out! The Eucharistic meal still does this miracle. That is why we must prepare ourselves through good life, prayer and confession so as to remain with Jesus.

“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 glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him at once.” The heart of Jesus bears it all. He never stopped loving Judas but Judas was busy loving something else: money! It is impossible not to betray our communion with Jesus if the energies of our hearts are directed to something less, including turning attention to oneself.

This is where Peter broke the heart of Jesus when he said, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” He was so conscious of himself and his capacity to be faithful to Jesus. But faithfulness is the work of grace! How far can the self take him? Seeing through his heart, imagine how hurtful it was for Jesus that Peter was going to deny Him. “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.” By denial, Peter was going to withdraw himself from the one he pledge to commit his life.

Jesus is greatly troubled. His heart of love is wounded. His most intimate friends are set to betray and deny him. Human relationships are still bearing these marks. Jesus continues to love; He freely accepted the betrayal and denial, and offered them to the Father, who is ever faithful. Therefore, in Jesus we too will continue to love and remain faithful, even when those closest to us betray or deny us. Now is the Son of man glorified in those who share communion with Him, for their broken hearts shall be healed.

 Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Tuesday April 7th, 2020.

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

My Jesus, I believe that you are really here in the Blessed Sacrament. I love you more than anything in the world, and I hunger to feed on your flesh. But since I cannot receive Communion at this moment, feed my soul at least spiritually. I unite myself to you now as I do when I actually receive you. Never let me drift away from you. Amen.

----St Alphonsus Liguori