From the Gospel according to John 13:21-33, 36-38
Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant. One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved,
was reclining at Jesus’ side. So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant. He leaned back against Jesus’ chest and said to him, “Master, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it.” So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him. Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or to give something to the poor. So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night.
was reclining at Jesus’ side. So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant. He leaned back against Jesus’ chest and said to him, “Master, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it.” So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him. Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or to give something to the poor. So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night.
When he had left, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you.”
Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now,
though you will follow later.” Peter said to him, “Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”
though you will follow later.” Peter said to him, “Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”
The Gospel of the Lord
Where Will You Go?
Peter believes he can follow Jesus and lay down his life for Him, relying on his own strength. But Jesus shows him that this is not the way. There is a somewhat ironic tone in Jesus’ reply to Peter: “Will you lay down your life for Me?” As if to say, “Where will you go without Me?” He allows Peter to undergo the humbling experience of acting on his own strength—an experience that leads him to deny Jesus not once, not twice, but three times—so that he might understand clearly that without Him, he can do nothing.
Applied to Married Life:
Patricia: We are a fragile couple. We face temptations and falls. This Sacrament of Marriage is truly a work of God. We must learn to see it with the humility of those who know they are incapable of reaching the heights of Love on their own. Only God is capable, without His help—where shall we go? The one who becomes small, who understands that everything is a gift from God, is the one who comes to live the Sacrament as God intended. So often we try to take the lead in God’s work and demand of the other what only God can give. Forgive me for expecting from you what God has not yet granted you, and for thinking of myself as better than you.
Ray: Forgive me, too! I promised to give my life for you, and lately I’ve been giving it to my work instead. I will strive to do better—but above all, I ask the Lord to do it in me, for you.
Patricia: I, too, have been trying hard to please others and not you. I will strive to do better. How great is the Lord, who promises to make living out our marriage possible—because He is with us.
Ray: Yes. All our efforts must lead us to become smaller, so that He may become greater in us and in our marriage. That is the secret of a love that is being transformed into His Love.
Ray: Forgive me, too! I promised to give my life for you, and lately I’ve been giving it to my work instead. I will strive to do better—but above all, I ask the Lord to do it in me, for you.
Patricia: I, too, have been trying hard to please others and not you. I will strive to do better. How great is the Lord, who promises to make living out our marriage possible—because He is with us.
Ray: Yes. All our efforts must lead us to become smaller, so that He may become greater in us and in our marriage. That is the secret of a love that is being transformed into His Love.
Mother,
You are full of grace. Hear my cry: “I have only You, Mother, only have You, Lord.” Praised be Your name, for I know You never abandon me.