Tuesday 7 April 2020

Night had fallen. The Fathers of the Church saw this as an expression not only of the time of day, but of the state of Judas’ soul. But this darkness refers also to the whole situation. Heavy black shutters have slammed down over the heart of Judas. The disciples too are finding themselves ever more heavily curtained off from understanding what is happening around them, and from help, increasing their growing anxiety.  

Even Jesus is not immune. The darkness is dripping now like a heavy black ooze over Jesus. All is becoming black, as Satan tries, and the Father allows, the Light of the World to be extinguished.

And yet - Jesus remains free. We see this in two ways.

The first is his continuing love and respect for Judas. Knowing what he is doing, he isn’t sharp or nasty or even sarcastic to him. He does not display a shred of lack of charity in any way. He simply says calmly and with patience: ‘What you are going to do, do quickly.’ Whenever we have felt that we have been betrayed, backstabbed, treated unjustly - where was our charity? We were reeling in pain, strongly tempted and maybe gave in to bitterness, and the desire for revenge. Jesus tells us with force today: that is not my way. That is not the way of my Father.

And this is the second thing we see: even betrayed, upset and stirred up as he might feel, he continues with absolute and faithful adherence to the Father’s plan and the Father’s love. He’s being betrayed? That’s ok - its part of the Father’s plan - and so great good will come of it. ‘Now has the Son of Man been glorified, and in him God has been glorified. If God has been glorified in him, God will in turn glorify him in himself, and will glorify him very soon.

Let’s beg Jesus for forgiveness when we have chosen to do the wrong thing when we feel we have suffered betrayal, asking him for the gift of real charity in all situations and with all kinds of people.

Let us pray:

Almighty ever-living God,

grant us so to celebrate

the mysteries of the Lord’s Passion

that we may merit to receive your pardon.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.