Tuesday of Holy Week
A Sense Of Mission
Liturgical Cycle: A, B, C | Lectionary Cycle: I, II
Introduction
Today’s Gospel presents three persons to us:
The first is a man preoccupied with himself, his own interests and needs, his selfish satisfaction. He is not a free person; he is not open to Christ, for he serves money and greed. He will betray Jesus. This man is Judas.
Then, there is a second man, a good person, open to Christ, but weak. He tries to hide his frailty with impetuous, self-reliant bravery. He cracks in the hour of the test. He will deny Jesus. This person is Peter.
The third person is Jesus. He is totally unselfish, completely open to God and to everyone. He is the perfect servant, the person-for-others, that is described again today in the first reading in the words of the Second Song of God’s Servant. And because he was the perfect servant, he could save us all.
Opening Prayer
Lord, our God,
Your Son, Jesus Christ,
had to undergo the humiliation
of being betrayed and denied
by those he called his friends.
But he made his suffering and death
into instruments of love and reconciliation.
Make us with him people-for-others,
who accept difficulties, even betrayals
and misunderstanding of our best intentions,
and turn them into sources of life and joy
for those around us.
Keep us faithful to you and to one another
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 71:1-2, 3-4a, 5ab-6ab, 15 and 17
R. (see 15ab) I will sing of your salvation.
In you, O LORD, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue me, and deliver me;
incline your ear to me, and save me.
R. I will sing of your salvation.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.
R. I will sing of your salvation.
For you are my hope, O Lord;
my trust, O God, from my youth.
On you I depend from birth;
from my mother's womb you are my strength.
R. I will sing of your salvation.
My mouth shall declare your justice,
day by day your salvation.
O God, you have taught me from my youth,
and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.
R. I will sing of your salvation.
Alleluia Verse
Glory and Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ
Hail to you, our King, obedient to the Father;
you were led to your crucifixion like a gentle lamb to the slaughter.
Glory and Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ
Prayers of the Faithful
God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son to save us and bring us life by his death and resurrection. Let us pray to Jesus for all who suffer and say: Lord, by your cross you have redeemed the world.
– For those whose ideals have faded, that they may still see and accept the novelty of life and constantly renew themselves, we pray: Lord, by your cross you have redeemed the world.
– For the perpetual losers of their personal struggles against the forces of evil, that they may trust in Christ, whose grace is mightier than sin and death, we pray: Lord, by your cross you have redeemed the world.
– For those who are lonely, deserted, or shut up within themselves, that they may accept the companionship of Christ, and through him, open themselves to others, we pray: Lord, by your cross you have redeemed the world.
– For all of us, that we may learn from our Lord himself to bear our crosses in patience and humility, that somehow they may bring life to us and to our neighbor, we pray: Lord, by your cross you have redeemed the world.
– For this community, that with Jesus, our Savior, it may be poor, and serving and open to all needs, we pray: Lord, by your cross you have redeemed the world.
Lord Jesus Christ, your cross remains to us a mystery, as does all pain and want. Yet, we rely on your word and example that it is a way to joy and freedom. Turn our crosses into bearers of happiness and life, now and for ever.
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord God, loving Father,
The evening before he gave himself to death,
Your Son Jesus gave himself to his friends
in the form of bread to be eaten
and a cup of wine to be shared.
As we are gathered here for his holy meal,
let your Son give himself again to us,
that we may learn from him
to give ourselves for one another
and that our strength to do so may come
from Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Our God and Father,
we have eaten the bread of faithfulness
at the table of Jesus, your Son.
We too, have at times betrayed him,
When we broke our friendship with you
and when we denied to our neighbour
the right to be happy and free.
From now on, let him be our strength
in bringing justice and dignity,
to even the last and least of our brothers and sisters
and in building up together
your community of joy and hope,
In which lives Jesus Christ,
Your Son and our Lord, forever and ever.
Blessing
One of the saddest experiences in life is to see one’s love and trust misunderstood, denied, or even betrayed. This was the lot of Jesus. He suffered from it, yet accepted it in order to undo our disloyalties and betrayals. This is why his own love and loyalty to the Father and to us went as far as it can go: death. And this is how he won for us, the courage to love without counting the cost and to be faithful to the end. May God fill us with his blessings: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTION:
Jn 13:21-33, 36-38
Betrayal and Redemption
In today's Gospel, we witness a dual betrayal—one calculated, the other impulsive. Taking this narrative into account, Pope Francis offers some useful lessons for the way we live our lives. Judas, one of the Twelve, harboured darkness within, and he conspired to betray Jesus. Pope Francis reminds us that betrayal often begins subtly—a compromise here, a rationalisation there. It festers until we embrace darkness fully. We must examine our hearts: Do we allow selfish desires to eclipse our loyalty to Christ?
Peter, on the other hand, was impulsive and passionate, declaring his unwavering loyalty to Jesus. Yet, fear and weakness overcame him. He had vowed to follow the Lord even to death, but his faith wavered, and he denied his Lord three times. But that was not the end of the story for Peter. Pope Francis emphasises mercy for the fallen. Peter’s denial did not define him; instead, the Lord's redemption awaited him. Like Peter, we stumble. Our faith falters, and we deny Christ through our actions or even silence. But the divine grace beckons us back.
We face moments of decision—moments when our loyalty to Christ is tested. Will we choose the path of Judas or Peter? The Pope calls us to be humble in acknowledging our weaknesses in the same way Peter did. Seek forgiveness and healing. The cock crowed for Peter, but it also heralded hope. His repentance led to restoration, and he became a rock for the Church. Our betrayals need not define us. Jesus, in His boundless love, invites us to rise from our denials and serve His mission.
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John 13: 21-33, 36-38
Embracing Mercy
Every soul experiences moments of spiritual darkness—the dark night of the sinner. Yet, in the depths of our struggles, Jesus stands with open arms, ready to embrace us. This night of the sinner is temporary, a season of trial through which all must pass. Even Peter, beloved of Christ, stumbled in his faith, yet he found redemption through the mercy of the Lord. However, the night of the corrupt—such as that of Judas—is different. It is a night that shuts the heart away from God, a final rejection of grace.
When we fall into sin, we may feel lost, uncertain, or unworthy. But Christ’s mercy is greater than our failings. It is in the very recognition of our sins, in the humility of confession, that we encounter the crucified Christ, who forgives and renews us. St. Paul found his glory not in his righteousness but in Christ’s redeeming love for him, a sinner. Like Peter, who denied Jesus, we too experience moments of weakness. But just as Christ looked at Peter with tenderness, He gazes upon us with love, offering us the sweetness of His forgiveness.
Holy Week calls us to reflect on our lives and seek transformation.
Do not betray love. Like Judas, we sometimes live a double life, professing love yet acting with betrayal. We must strive for honesty and integrity, speaking truth rather than sowing discord.
In darkness, trust in God. Life brings moments of confusion and uncertainty, where we struggle to discern what is right. In these moments, let us cling to Christ, our guiding light.
Do not deny Him. While we may be close to God in times of comfort, we falter in trials. Let us remain steadfast in faith, trusting that God never abandons us.
May this Holy Week be a time of renewal, leading us from darkness into the light of Christ’s mercy.