Today’s Scripture Readings

Gospel Reading

NRSV

After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, ‘Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.’ The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, ‘Lord, who is it?’ Jesus answered, ‘It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.’ So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, ‘Do quickly what you are going to do.’ Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, ‘Buy what we need for the festival’; or, that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night. When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.” Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, where are you going?’ Jesus answered, ‘Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterwards.’ Peter said to him, ‘Lord, 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? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.

The sense of betrayal is everywhere in the Gospel we hear. No wonder Jesus is troubled, given that the betrayals come from among his closest companions, those he has chosen and prepared for the mission that lies ahead.

The first and greatest betrayal comes from Judas who, faced with a choice between Jesus and Satan, chooses Satan. Judas must have decided, as the shadows gather around Jesus and death seems almost certain, that this wasn’t the deal. He lines up with those who want a different kind of messiah, and he works with them to betray Jesus.

The second betrayal will be Peter, as Jesus foresees. He too, will seem driven by fear to claim that he’s never known Jesus; if he can’t save Jesus, he can at least save his own skin. As the story unfolds, Judas’ betrayal will lead him into despair and self-destruction. There’s no way out or back for him. By contrast, Peter’s betrayal will lead to the tears of repentance and a renewed profession of love for Jesus.

In the song of the suffering servant from the prophet Isaiah we hear the servant faces a choice: Is it true that he has laboured in vain and spent his strength for nothing? Or is it true that his cause is with the Lord, his reward with his God? The first is the way of Judas; the second is the way of Peter. We face a similar choice, never more than in these days of Holy Week.