Judas walks into the darkness – away from Jesus,

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

Isaiah 49:1-6

  Listen to me, O islands,

Pay attention, peoples from distant lands. Yahweh called me from my mother’s womb; he pronounced my name before I was born.  He made my mouth like a sharpened sword. He hid me in the shadow of his hand. He made me into a polished arrow set apart in his quiver.

 He said to me, “You are Israel, my servant, Through you I will be known.”   “I have labored in vain,” I thought and spent my strength for nothing.” Yet what is due me was in the hand of Yahweh, and my reward was with my God.

I am important in the sight of Yahweh, and my God is my strength.   And now Yahweh has spoken, he who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, to gather Israel to him.

  He said: “It is not enough that you be my servant, to restore the tribes of Jacob, to bring back the remnant of Israel. I will make you the light of the nations,  that my salvation will reach to the ends of the earth.”

 

Ps 71:1-2, 3-4a, 5ab-6ab, 15 & 17

I will sing of your salvation.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊   

John 13:21-33, 36-38

After saying this, Jesus was distressed in spirit, and said plainly, "Truly, one of you will betray me." The disciples then looked at one another, wondering whom he meant. One of the disciples, the one Jesus loved, was reclining near Jesus; so Simon Peter signaled him to ask Jesus whom he meant.

 And the disciple, who was reclining near Jesus, asked him, "Lord, who is it?" Jesus answered, "I shall dip a piece of bread in the dish, and he to whom I give it, is the one."

 So Jesus dipped the bread in the dish and gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. As Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus then said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly."

 None of the others, reclining at the table, understood why Jesus had said this to Judas. As Judas had the common purse, they may have thought that Jesus was telling him, "Buy what we need for the feast," or, "Give something to the poor." Judas left as soon as he had eaten the bread. It was night.

 When Judas had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. God will glorify him, and he will glorify him very soon.

 My children, I am with you for only a little while; you will look for me, but as I already told the Jews, now I tell 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 afterward you will." Peter said, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I am ready to give my life for you." "To give your life for me?" Jesus asked Peter. "Truly I tell you, the cock will not crow, before you have denied me three times."

 

 Gospel Reflection：

Shifting the Blame

 When Jesus announces the betrayal, what disturbs the disciples is not the fact that Jesus will be betrayed but that it will be one of them who does it! There is an eagerness to find out who it is –  if it is not me, it's okay. Pilate was not the only one who washed his hands of responsibility.

Peter goes one step further, as he normally does, and declares that he is ready to give up his life for Jesus. Mark puts it more bluntly in Peter's mouth: "Even if all the others fall away, I will not" (Mk 14: 29). Sadly, the focus for nearly everyone is on absolving oneself, while the Master is left alone in his grief of betrayal and death.

If we closely examine our own practicing of faith, perhaps we are no better off – as Peter would realize to his horror, sooner rather than later.