REFLECTION/HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF HOLY WEEK 26TH MARCH 2024

REFLECTION/HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF HOLY WEEK 26TH MARCH 2024

Isaiah 49:1-6; Ps.71; John 13:21-33, 36-38

You too will be betrayed

The pain of betrayer can be so intense, devastating and everlasting. People who have passed through great ordeals in life, continue to suffer, not necessarily due to the effect of the ordeal but based on the thought of the one who was responsible for the ordeal – a dear one, from whom they never expected such negativity. Today, many persons have adjusted in their acts of kindness, charity and godliness because the past of experience of being repaid evil for their good, continues to serve as a deterrent.

Jesus too was betrayed, but he was able to evade the whole culture of stop being good as a result of the shock of betrayer. In today’s gospel, Jesus calmly predicted the betrayer of Judas and the denial of Peter. It is interesting that Jesus was able to maintain so much calm with knowledge of such magnitude. He did not begin to give Judas or Peter some altitude of dislike. The fact that the disciples were confused as to who will betray the Lord, means that Jesus did not put up any behaviour that gave such knowledge out. This does mean that the betrayer and the denial did not displease Jesus, but he will not be deterred by them.

Beloved, like Jesus, we may not be able to specifically tell who will betray or deny us tomorrow. But like Jesus, let the experience of betray and denial not surprise us. Have it in mind that you will be betrayed, even though you do not know by who. The point in expecting betrayer is not for you to begin to be suspicious of everyone or to start having trust issues, but for you to be strong enough to keep going in doing good after the experience of betrayer. Do not stop being a good person because you were betrayed.

If we withdraw into ourselves after the experience of betrayer, soon, no one will be reaching out to the other. We need to set our minds aright if we must be consistent in doing good. However, the fact that we should not allow ourselves be shocked by betrayer, does not mean that we should be the “Judas” in the lives of others. Both Judas and Peter did not find it easy with themselves when they realized what they had done. On the cross, Jesus forgave his executioners, but did not appear to any of them after his resurrection. Apologies does not always restore things to their former state. Betrayer is one thing that you may not entirely get over with “I am sorry”. On this matter, prevention is better than cure.