Weekly Reflection

Presence

At any time of the day or night we can call on Jesus.

He is always waiting for us, listening for our call.

What a wonderful blessing.

No phone needed, no e-mails, just a whisper.

Freedom

Lord, I let go of the worries, resentments and fears that can sometimes hold onto me so tightly. Let me open my hands and my heart to receive freely all the gifts that I need at this time.

Consciousness

I exist in a web of relationships – links to nature, people, God. Some links are twisted or broken. I may feel regret, anger or disappointment. I pray for the gift of acceptance and forgiveness.

The Word of God   John 13:21-33, 36-38

After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, ‘Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.’ The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, ‘Lord, who is it?’ Jesus answered, ‘It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.’ So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, ‘Do quickly what you are going to do.’ Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, ‘Buy what we need for the festival’; or, that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.”
Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, where are you going?’ Jesus answered, ‘Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterwards.’ Peter said to him, ‘Lord, 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? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.

Some thoughts on today's scripture

• ‘And it was night’ is not simply a description of the time of day; it is a stark image of the gloom of sin and rejection. Judas walks into the darkness – away from Jesus, the true light whom the darkness cannot overcome. Lord, where there is darkness, let me bring light.
•  Many of us might hesitate to answer the question ‘will you lay down your life for me?’ But there is no ambivalence on God’s part – he has already laid down his life for us.

Conversation

Lord, help me each day to seek your presence more and more. Fill my heart with love for you.

Conclusion

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Pope's Prayer Intention for 2021

Pope Francis has a monthly prayer intention for each month.

This month's intention is:  

March

Sacrament of reconciliation

Let us pray that we may experience the sacrament of reconciliation with renewed depth, to taste the infinite mercy of God.