Daily Homily 4-7-2020 Tuesday of Holy Week
Tuesday of Holy Week/John 13:21 ff (Love Your Enemy)
Judas is one of the main characters of the Gospel readings at Mass during Holy Week. Jesus and Judas must have great affection for one another at the beginning of their relationship. Either Jesus chose Judas as a disciple or Judas sought Jesus out. But at some point, Judas must have given up on Jesus. He lost faith.
Jesus, it seems, never wanted to give up on Judas. If Jesus has a fault, it would be that he always wants to give the sinner every opportunity to change. Jesus wants a relationship with every one of us.
We might fail to appreciate this unless we take a close look at what happens at the Last Supper. The way banquets were arranged at the time Jesus lived was that the diners would lay around a short table arranged in a u shape. The people eating would lean on their left elbow and take food with their right hand.
The person to your right could literally lay their head on your chest. That is why the beloved disciple, who sat on Jesus’ right at the last supper could lean on Jesus chest and talk to him. Jesus could do the same with the person on his left. That person, it would seem, was Judas.
The person on the left of the host was considered the guest of honor. Jesus knew what Judas was about to do, but he made him the honored guest. Jesus was trying to change Judas’ mind up until the last moment, it would seem.
Judas’ heart was hardened, however. He went forward with his treachery. How sad Jesus must have been to have been betrayed by a person he considered a close friend.
Our hearts can be closed to what God wants for us. We know we can choose to go our own way and not listen to what God is revealing to us. During this Holy Week, we pray for open hearts. We want to be like the beloved disciple who never broke faith. We ask that during this time of trial we lean on Jesus and he may bring us all comfort. Even though the path is dark Jesus is beside us.
Dear Parishioners,
This is a time of mourning for many. Today we learned that Ben Rogers succumbed to the COVID 19 virus. He had been in the hospital for several weeks. I would ask you to pray for his wife Joan at this difficult time.
It has been said that the person who dies in the hospital with this virus has two deaths. One death revolves around being separated from family and friends who are not allowed to be present. The second death is the physical death.
This virus is most insidious in that it divides us from one another when we need each other the most. We must continue to reach out to each other by whatever means possible, letters, emails, phone calls, etc. and we must continue to pray and be in conversation with God.
Tomorrow we will have daily Mass at 8 a.m. I will offer that Mass for Ben. After Mass there will be a period of adoration with the Blessed Sacrament and we will have Benediction at 9 a.m. Please pass the word. We will post this service on our website so you can see it anytime during the day.
Holy Week livestreaming will be:
Holy Thursday: 7 p.m.
Good Friday: 3 p.m.
Holy Saturday: No Service
Easter Sunday: 8 a.m.
May Our Lady and all the angels and saints pray for us today.
Fr. Mark