Homily: Tuesday of Holy Week - John, Peter, and Judas

In Yesterday’s Gospel, Mary of Bethany, the sister of Lazarus, and Judas Iscariot had two different responses to Jesus.  Mary, drew near, adoring the Lord, anointing him with oil.  Judas, on the other hand, turned away; with avarice in his heart, he looked for opportunities to betray.

In today’s Gospel, three disciples give three different responses to Jesus.

John, the beloved disciples lays his head on Jesus’ chest .  Peter, confesses his desire to follow Jesus even unto death, but at the sight of the cross flees in fear.  And Judas, with betrayal in his heart goes into the night. 

Sometimes we are like John: we have moments of great intimacy with Jesus, of deep prayer and unshakable love for the Lord.  Of all the apostles, it is John who stands at the cross with the Blessed mother. 

Sometimes, we are like Peter: we can be so pious and enthusiastic one moment, saying, “Master, I will lay down my life for you”, and then the next moment running away in fear.  How does that enthusiasm so easily turn into sinful fear? The cross.  When it was time to actually suffer with Christ and for Christ, Peter’s enthusiasm deflated like a broken balloon, and denied the Lord three times. Jesus knows precisely how many times we will deny him in the course of our life, yet he calls us to follow him and witness to him just the same.

And then sometimes we can be like the silent Judas, rejecting the light and slinking off into the darkness.

If we are honest, I think we’ve all had wonderful John moments, naïve Peter moments, and dark Judas moments. 

The Sacrament of Confession helps us to turn away from those times we have been like Judas.  And our Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving help us to build up some courage and fortitude so that we don’t run away, like Peter, at the sight of the cross.

I expect, when John the beloved inclined his ear to Jesus’ heart, Jesus knew John’s weaknesses and fears.  But drawing near to the Lord’s heart changes us.  For his Sacred Heart is stronger than any cross, or any of our failures.

May we continue to be strengthened in our love for him as we journey with him to the cross, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.