The Word Among Us: A Catholic Devotional based on the Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Tuesday, March 31, 2015

The Word Among Us: A Catholic Devotional based on the Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Meditation: John 13:21 After saying this, Yeshua, in deep anguish of spirit, declared, “Yes, indeed! I tell you that one of you will betray me.” 22 The talmidim stared at one another, totally mystified — whom could he mean? 23 One of his talmidim, the one Yeshua particularly loved, was reclining close beside him. 24 So Shim‘on Kefa motioned to him and said, “Ask which one he’s talking about.” 25 Leaning against Yeshua’s chest, he asked Yeshua, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Yeshua answered, “It’s the one to whom I give this piece of matzah after I dip it in the dish.” So he dipped the piece of matzah and gave it to Y’hudah Ben-Shim‘on from K’riot. 27 As soon as Y’hudah took the piece of matzah, the Adversary went into him. “What you are doing, do quickly!” Yeshua said to him. 28 But no one at the table understood why he had said this to him. 29 Some thought that since Y’hudah was in charge of the common purse, Yeshua was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival,” or telling him to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as he had taken the piece of matzah, Y’hudah went out, and it was night.

31 After Y’hudah had left, Yeshua said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If the Son has glorified God, God will himself glorify the Son, and will do so without delay. 33 Little children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and, as I said to the Judeans, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ now I say it to you as well.

36 Shim‘on Kefa said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Yeshua answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow later.” 37 “Lord,” Kefa said to him, “why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you!” 38 Yeshua answered, “You will lay down your life for me? Yes, indeed! I tell you, before the rooster crows you will disown me three times.

Tuesday of Holy Week
Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. (John 13:31)
Root vegetables are some of the most challenging crops for a new gardener to harvest. Because you can’t easily tell then they are fully ripened, it’s easy to pull them up at the wrong time. Carrots, for instance, are supposed to be harvested after they produce a full plume of leaves. Yet there’s always that chance that this beautiful fountain of leafy stems is hiding a small, underformed carrot. Potatoes, on the other hand, are best harvested when it looks like the above-ground plant is dead. If you pull them out too soon, you can’t replant them. And if you wait too long, they will have gone bad. You have only one chance.
The night of the Last Supper posed a similar kind of confusion for the apostles. They saw all the signs that made them think that Jesus was about to take his place as King: cheers and palms upon their entry into Jerusalem, adoring crowds, and amazing miracles. With such powerful displays, they thought it was surely harvest time!
In the upper room, Jesus tried to show them the kind of king he was destined to become. He even tried to prepare them for their new roles in his kingdom. But then he started talking about leaving them and how they would not be able to follow him where he was going. It was all so baffling! His glory was so close, but they didn’t understand that he had to die first in order to take up his throne. So in their confusion, they made a few mistakes.
Imagine how Peter felt when, after denying Jesus three times, he heard the cock crow. Imagine how all the disciples felt at the Last Supper when they began arguing about who was the greatest in the kingdom.
We all make mistakes. Jesus understands that we are novice farmers. Today, remember that his grace can cover any of our blunders, and his harvest is rich in mercy and love. The miracle of Christianity is that quite often, we can undo our mistakes. We can replant something and still watch it grow!
“Lord, you know that I will sometimes make mistakes. Still, I thank you for always being willing to forgive me and for patiently teaching me how to prepare the best harvest.” Amen!
Isaiah 49: Coastlands, listen to me;

listen, you peoples far away:

Adonai called me from the womb;

before I was born, he had spoken my name.

2 He has made my mouth like a sharp sword

while hiding me in the shadow of his hand;

he has made me like a sharpened arrow

while concealing me in his quiver.

3 He said to me, “You are my servant,

Isra’el, through whom I will show my glory.”

4 But I said, “I have toiled in vain,

spent my strength for nothing, futility.”

Yet my cause is with Adonai,

my reward is with my God.

5 So now Adonai says —

he formed me in the womb to be his servant,

to bring Ya‘akov back to him,

to have Isra’el gathered to him,

so that I will be honored in the sight of Adonai,

my God having become my strength —

6 he has said, “It is not enough

that you are merely my servant

to raise up the tribes of Ya‘akov

and restore the offspring of Isra’el.

I will also make you a light to the nations,

so my salvation can spread to the ends of the earth.”

Psalm 71:1 In you, Adonai, I have taken refuge;

let me never be put to shame.

2 In your righteousness, rescue me;

and help me to escape.

Turn your ear toward me,

and deliver me.

3 Be for me a sheltering rock,

where I can always come.

You have determined to save me,

because you are my bedrock and stronghold.

4 My God, help me escape from the power of the wicked,

from the grasp of the unjust and ruthless.

5 For you are my hope, Adonai Elohim,

in whom I have trusted since I was young.

6 From birth I have relied on you;

it was you who took me from my mother’s womb.

15 All day long my mouth will tell

of your righteous deeds and acts of salvation,

though their number is past my knowing.

17 God, you have taught me since I was young,

and I still proclaim your wonderful works.

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