Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, including the feet of Judas Iscariot.

Jesus loved his disciples until the end and his love showed no discrimination.

Jesus’ love for Judas was never in doubt.

(“I will draw all people to myself!”)

“I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Isaiah 49:1-6

Listen to me, O islands,

Pay attention, people 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 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 ：

"Grow in faith."

It was night. This is how the narrator of the Gospel of John described the event after Judas Iscariot had left Jesus and the other disciples during the meal characterized by the washing of the disciples' feet. This event will be followed by Judas' betrayal of Jesus. Night connotes darkness.

 

We may reflect that the darkness here does not only refer to the predicament of Judas Iscariot for the wrong decision he made but also to the condition of the rest of the other disciples. While Judas made the wrong choice, the other disciples still needed to grow in faith. In the Gospel of John, knowledge connotes belief while ignorance connotes unbelief.

 

The other disciples were still lacking in faith. They lacked knowledge. Should they have known and understood what was going on between Jesus and Judas when they were at table, they certainly would not allow Judas to go out of the cenacle. Evil besets our society simply because we lack the needed knowledge. Proper knowledge leads to sound decisions, and sound decisions lead to good actions. On this Holy Tuesday, may we truly grow in faith. It is through an informed faith that we are strengthened to sacrifice for others.