Jesus, John, Peter and Judas together set up the preparation for the
climax during the farewell meal. Jesus, knowing what is to come shortly gets
distressed in his human spirit. Like any other person in trouble, he tries to
verbalize his innermost feelings in the circle of his friends. It must have
been devastating for him to notice that not even his beloved disciple John who
was reclining on his side understands his inner groaning. Yet Jesus moves on to love his betrayer explicitly by sharing
the bread. By this act he implies that, Judas, I love you no less, in spite
of the forthcoming painful betrayal of friendship. A beautiful example of love
in its pure form! A marvelous aspect of God that no one is spared from his
passionate love regardless of the weaknesses.
Will I be able to love someone when I know that there is a trace of
betrayal in that person? Jesus did! Am I to follow Jesus extending
my understanding to others, beyond my own petty issues? Jesus exemplified this
sort of love during his passion. He restored the ear of the high priests’ slave
while he was arrested. Besides, while carrying the cross among insults and
jeering, he finds time to console the weeping women at Jerusalem. Moreover, even
while hanging on the cross, he consoles and assures the repentant thief. Rarely do we encounter such persons who
forgetting their own pain chooses to console others in their misery. Indeed, they
take the role of wounded healers bestowed with divine grace and human heart.
Such persons mediate the seeping in of divine love in human form to those weary
souls!
Further, I am invited to check in whether there is a Peter in me,
who signaled John to ask Jesus about the one who is to betray him and showed that he lacked
the courage to encounter the Lord directly. At times like Peter we too make
promises saying, “Lord, I am ready to give my life for you”. The consequence is
repeated betrayal in big and small ways from our side. Yet, what Jesus has to offer
to us is the loveliest words, “I love you no less, you are dear to my
heart”. When we make an honest confession of our human weaknesses, the
priest who is Christ’s representative utters the same words of assurance. When we
receive the Holy Communion, Jesus readily enters into our
spiritual and physical dimension with the same message. During this Holy Week
like John, let us take our place close to the heart of Jesus, sharing his inner
turbulence with a commitment to follow him even if it entails the cross (by s. Jessy Paul SSpS).
No comments:
Post a Comment