“But he was not satisfied with giving us all these beautiful things. He went to such lengths to win our love that he gave himself wholly to us. The Eternal Father gave us even his only Son.”
READ: JOHN 13:21–38
Having said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and declared, “I tell you most solemnly, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, wondering which he meant. The disciple Jesus loved was reclining next to Jesus; Simon Peter signed to him and said, “Ask who it is he means,” so leaning back on Jesus’ breast he said, “Who is it, Lord?” “It is the one,” replied Jesus, “to whom I give the piece of bread that I shall dip in the dish.” He dipped the piece of bread and gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. At that instant, after Judas had taken the bread, Satan entered him. Jesus then said, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” None of the others at table understood the reason he said this. Since Judas had charge of the common fund, some of them thought Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival,” or telling him to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the piece of bread he went out. Night had fallen. When he had gone Jesus said: “Now has the Son of Man been glorified, and in him God has been glorified. If God has been glorified in him, God will in turn glorify him in himself, and will glorify him very soon. My little children, I shall not be with you much longer. You will look for me, and, as I told the Jews, where I am going, you cannot come. I give you a new commandment: love one another; just as I have loved you, you also must love one another. By this love you have for one another, everyone will know that you are my disciples.” Simon Peter said, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now; you will follow me later.” Peter said to him, “Why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” “Lay down your life for me?” answered Jesus. “I tell you most solemnly, before the cock crows you will have disowned me three times.”
YOUR THREE-STEP GUIDE TO DAILY MENTAL PRAYER
REFLECT
If we value our friendship with Christ, we will try to please Him, make Him happy, and stay close to Him. And He (unlike many human friends) is able to tell us exactly how to do that. If we love Him, we will keep His command, and His command is for us to love one another, to put our lives at the service of those around us, just as He did for us. It is the touchstone of the Christian: “By this . . . everyone will know that you are my disciples.” Without it, no matter how much theology we may know, no matter how good we may be at winning arguments, no matter how many awards we may win — without learning to love as Christ has loved, we simply cannot consider ourselves His friends. When Judas left Christ to betray Him, St. John tells us that “night had fallen.” It is the counterpoint to Christ’s insistent self-appellation throughout the Gospel that He is the light of the world and that whoever heeds His word will not walk in darkness. Only friendship with Christ illuminates the meaning of the human condition and the path to human happiness. To reject this friendship is willingly to plunge into the darkness.
Jesus: I was looking ahead to my sufferings. They loomed over me. Yet I wanted them because I wanted to glorify the Father; I wanted to show forth His goodness. I wanted them, too, because of you. They would rebuild the bridge between God and man, a bridge that you could then walk across into my Kingdom. If only you knew how ardent my love for you is! That is what I wanted to show you. Let me show you. Open your mind to see the intensity of my love reflected in the intensity of my suffering.
RESPOND
Teach me to do Your will, Lord. What more could I desire than for Your goodness to shine through my life? Your will is love and wisdom. Your will is my salvation, fulfillment, and happiness. I have only to follow Your example, the teachings of Your Church, and Your voice in my conscience. Make Your will the whole quest of my heart.
Mary, you knew all the apostles, including Judas. Why was Satan able to enter into him? I want to know. I don’t trust myself. I don’t want to betray Christ. Maybe I should ask instead why the others, who also abandoned Him, were able to come back to Him. They fell because of weakness, but Judas initiated his own rebellion. Mother, save me both from weakness and from pride.
REST
Father, You sent us Your Son so that we would not have to stumble in the darkness anymore. Yet so many people continue to reject Him, and so many others have never known Him. Move their hearts, Lord. Send out messengers — convinced, courageous, determined messengers. Send me. Reach into the hearts of those around me through my words, actions, and prayers.
RESOLVE
How can I carry this encounter with me into the day? (Write / Journal)
CLOSING PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Most Blessed and Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank You for Your love and Your grace in allowing me this time of prayer with You.
The world, the flesh, and the devil will all propose things I should focus on and run after today. I beg You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me instead to know and embrace Your will. Help me to see what You desire of me each moment of this day. Give me the wisdom, strength, and fortitude I need to avoid distractions, discern Your will, and focus on and carry out that which Wisdom reveals. Help me to work and live at a pace of peace and prayerfulness, always attentive to You, able to hear Your voice and to say no to anything that hinders my journey to You and a complete yes to every Holy prompting from You.
Help me to humbly and purposefully live, light, and lead others to the path of union with You and to tell everyone about this way of life. Amen.
About the Author
Fr. John Bartunek was ordained in 2003. He has taught moral theology at various ecclesiastical institutions at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and has authored many books, including the Gospel companion, The Better Part, and Inside the Passion, the only authorized behind-the-scenes look at the film, for which he provided on-set spiritual support. His online retreat guides are available in multiple formats at RCSpirituality.org. Fr. John currently resides in Atlanta, where he is serving as territorial vicar for the Legionaries of Christ.
