Daily Mass Readings + Gospel Reflection - John 13:21-33, 36-38 - April 4, 2023 - Tuesday of Holy Week 

Lectionary: 258

Reading 1

Is 49:1-6

Hear me, O islands,

listen, O distant peoples.

The LORD called me from birth,

from my mother's womb he gave me my name.

He made of me a sharp-edged sword

and concealed me in the shadow of his arm.

He made me a polished arrow,

in his quiver he hid me.

You are my servant, he said to me,

Israel, through whom I show my glory.

Though I thought I had toiled in vain,

and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength,

Yet my reward is with the LORD,

my recompense is with my God.

For now the LORD has spoken

who formed me as his servant from the womb,

That Jacob may be brought back to him

and Israel gathered to him;

And I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD,

and my God is now my strength!

It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant,

to raise up the tribes of Jacob,

and restore the survivors of Israel;

I will make you a light to the nations,

that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 71:1-2, 3-4a, 5ab-6ab, 15 and 17

R. I will sing of your salvation.

In you, O LORD, I take refuge;

let me never be put to shame.

In your justice rescue me, and deliver me;

incline your ear to me, and save me.

R. I will sing of your salvation.

Be my rock of refuge,

a stronghold to give me safety,

for you are my rock and my fortress.

O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.

R. I will sing of your salvation.

For you are my hope, O LORD;

my trust, O God, from my youth.

On you I depend from birth;

from my mother's womb you are my strength.

R. I will sing of your salvation.

My mouth shall declare your justice,

day by day your salvation.

O God, you have taught me from my youth,

and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.

R. I will sing of your salvation.

Verse Before the Gospel

Hail to you, our King, obedient to the Father;

you were led to your crucifixion like a gentle lamb to the slaughter.

Gospel

Jn 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."

Gospel Reflection

In John 13:21-33, 36-38, we see Jesus predicting that one among his disciples would betray him. This revelation troubled the disciples, and they began to question who it was. Peter, in typical impulsive fashion, asked John to ask Jesus who the betrayer was.

Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." He then dipped the bread and gave it to Judas Iscariot, who would later betray him.

The irony of this scene is that the betrayer was sitting with the other disciples, partaking in the same meal, seemingly no different than the rest. Yet Jesus knew what was in Judas' heart, and was not surprised by his actions.

As we reflect on this passage, we are reminded that even those who appear to be close to us can betray us. It is a reminder to discern the motives of those around us, and to pray for the grace to forgive those who do us wrong.

But this passage is also a reminder of the deep love Jesus has for his disciples, even Judas. Jesus knew what Judas was going to do, but he still included him in the meal, still gave him that piece of bread. It shows us that the love of Jesus knows no bounds, even when we don't deserve it.

As we look ahead to the Passion of Christ, we know that this betrayal would have consequences for Jesus. He would be arrested, tried, and crucified. But even in the midst of his suffering, Jesus chooses to love and forgive those who betrayed him.

May this passage inspire us to imitate Jesus' love and forgive those who betray us, and may it also remind us of the depth of Jesus' love for each of us.

Prayer

Dear Lord,

As we reflect on today's Gospel, we are reminded of the betrayal of Judas and the denial of Peter. We are humbled by their weakness and fear and must ask ourselves, how often do we also deny You or betray You in our own lives?

We pray for the courage and strength to proclaim our faith boldly and to never turn away from You. We pray for forgiveness for our own shortcomings and sins, and for the grace to turn back to You with a repentant heart.

May we always remember that You are with us, even in our darkest moments, and that we can find comfort and strength in Your love and mercy.

We ask for the intercession of Saint Peter and Saint Judas, that they may guide us to a deeper understanding of our own faith and inspire us to live a life of virtue and righteousness.

We pray this in Your holy name, Amen.