In today's Gospel, Satan enters Judas — and "it was night...the triumph of darkness" (Jn 13:30; Lk 22:53). "Men loved darkness rather than light" (Jn 3:19).
It wasn't one bad day that caused Satan to enter Judas at the most holy environment of the Last Supper. Judas deteriorated little by little. It was the daily decisions to seek the power and lures of the kingdom of darkness rather than seeking the kingdom of God. How ironic that on the very week that he should have most been seeking Jesus, Judas was instead constantly on the lookout for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to His enemies (Mt 26:16).
There is no neutrality during Holy Week nor during our daily life. We either seek Jesus or we seek the world (Mt 6:24). We are for Jesus or against Him (Lk 11:23). Those who are set on the things of the world are enemies of the cross of Christ (Phil 3:18-19).
So today, in this holiest week of the Church year, examine yourself (see 2 Cor 13:5). Are you seeking the Lord while He may be found? (Is 55:6) If not, "turn now ten times the more to seek Him" (Bar 4:28).
| PRAYER: | Jesus, nail me to the cross with You so that I may never leave You in times of trial. |
| PROMISE: | "Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, yet my reward is with the Lord, my recompense is with my God." –Is 49:4 |
| PRAISE: | After years of being away from the Church, Jerome returned to Church for an Easter Vigil Mass and literally saw the Light. He now rejoices in attending Mass. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College