The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Tuesday of Holy Week

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 49:1-6
Psalm 71:1-6,15,17
John 13:21-33,36-38

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

How terrible it must have been for Our Lord to know that someone who had been a part of His ministry would betray Him. How terribly difficult it must have been for Him to refrain from stopping Judas from doing what had to be done. It seems that this is just the first terrible part of the whole terrible crucifixion story. But was it all that terrible? From our frail human perspective it sure seems so. However, our Lord knew what must be done and even though He could have called armies of angels to stop the whole process, He did not.

Why? Love, plain and simple. His love for us was and is so complete, so pure, and so thorough, that He couldn't have stopped what happened. His once-and-for-all sacrifice tore the veil of the inner sanctuary so we could commune with the Father and Him directly, forever. He loves us THAT much.

Could He have stopped Judas? Surely! Did He want to stop him? We do not know. But we do know that it all happened for us and for a love that transcends everything.

- Don Claunch, SFO
(dlclaunch at bresnan dot net)

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