Tuesday of Holy Week

Reflection

Today’s first reading reminds us that God knew us even from before we were born; He made us all that we are, He made us His servants. The responsorial psalm is our prayer that asks God to be our refuge, our rock and our fortress to rescue us from evil. With this prayer, we call the Lord our hope and our salvation. We proclaim His eternal justice and praise His wondrous deeds.

 

These grandiose readings are conceptually abstract and other-worldly. They suggest a relationship that would be easy to bear—about flawed humans who will forever sing the praises of an omnipotent God who will protect us from harm.  We are weak; we need the refuge of the fortress that God provides.

 

But then we return to earth in today’s Gospel and find Jesus at the dinner table with His disciples and are reminded that even the Son of God is about to be betrayed, and suffer a horrible death at the hands of  great evil. Where is God’s fortress to protect His only begotten Son? How can this be?

 

Prayer

God, help all of us to more deeply understand the mystery of Jesus’ death and resurrection. His betrayal by Judas is easy for us to believe, but why did the Son of God have to suffer and die? Help deepen our faith so we will always believe that in spite of all that we suffer, we too can know our own resurrection and life in the world to come.

 

Vince Bolduc, Professor of Sociology

 

Scripture

First Reading: Isaiah 49:1-6

Psalm 71:1-4a, 5-6ab, 15, 17

Gospel: John 13:21-33, 36-38

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website