LISTEN. . After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.” Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” (John 13:21-27)
CONSIDER. . .Judas in his dark despair cut himself off from the truth of God's inexhaustible mercy. The difference between Peter and Judas is that Judas gave up on God's mercy. In contrast, Peter, who denied Christ three times, clung to faith. Peter had the capacity to experience God's mercy more than once. Judas could not move past his betrayal. No one is beyond redemption--not Peter, not Judas, not anyone. Jesus's strongest message is mercy.
SO WHAT. . .The Lord never tires of forgiving us--NEVER! We are the ones who get tired of asking for forgiveness. Please hear this. . .there is nothing you have ever done or will ever do that will stop God from loving and forgiving you. We each have access to God's inexhaustible love through Jesus Christ, our savior. All we need to do is ask and accept.
As our journey continues through Holy Week, do not grown weary of asking for forgiveness. And do not grow tired of forgiving others as God has forgiven you. Remember it is all about LOVE.
PRAYER. . .Loving and merciful God, let me never tire of asking you for forgiveness. Pour out your inexhaustible love upon me so my heart might be large enough to forgive those who hurt me. Renew my hope and cast out any despair that lingers in my heart. Amen
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