HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF HOLY WEEK.
THEME: The love we give to others isn’t always returned to us.(The case of Jesus and Judas Iscariot).
BY: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA.
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Isaiah 49:1-6
Psalm 70:1-6,15,17
John 13:21-33,36-38
*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
PURPLE
*INTRODUCTION*
Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus, today is already Holy Tuesday during the Holy Week. And the readings of today shows us that, the love we give to others isn’t always returned to us. This was certainly the experience of Jesus. He loved all his disciples equally. He washed the feet of all of his disciples, including the feet of Judas. In laying down his garments to wash the feet of his disciples, Jesus was anticipating the laying down of his life in love for his disciples and for all humanity.
*FROM OUR FIRST READING*
Our first reading of today, tells each one of us that, that the Jesus Christ who was talked about by Isaiah the prophet, came to us, calling on us, His lost sheep, to follow Him and to embrace the fullness of His love, reminding us not to harden our hearts and minds any longer, and be willing to embrace Him wholeheartedly, His loving kindness and generous mercy. Then, He did all these by exposing Himself to all the wickedness of the world and all the trials that He had to bear as part of His journey.
RELATED: HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF HOLY WEEK.
*FROM OUR GOSPEL READING*
In the Oriental culture of the time, Jesus’ action in today’s gospel reading of dipping a piece of bread in the main dish and giving it to Judas was a sign of honour and affection. Jesus’ outreach of love to Judas meets with a rebuff. At the moment Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. He was confirmed in his resolve to betray Jesus to his enemies. Although the light of God’s love was shining through Jesus upon Judas at that moment, Judas showed that he preferred the darkness to the light. He left the presence of God’s light and went out into the night, into the darkness. Yet, Jesus continued to love Judas to the end, laying down his life for him as much as for others.
*CONCLUSION*
Dear Friends in Christ, when the love we give to others is not received it tends to die off. This was not the case with Jesus. He continues to love those who fail to receive his love. He seeks out those who turn away from the light and go out into the darkness. The light of the Lord’s love continues to shine in the darkness and the darkness never overcomes it. This Holy Week is an invitation to us to receive the Lord’s love, like the beloved disciple in the gospel reading, and then to reflect something of the Lord’s faithful love to others.
May God bless us all through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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