March 30, 2021: Tuesday of Holy Week

 Today's Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/033021.cfm

In today's first reading, we read about God sending a servant to rescue the Israelites. He states “I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” As we know this light or servant God is sending, is Jesus. For God is not just sending Jesus to rescue the Israelites but God is sending Him to reach the ends of the earth, which is referring to all humanity. 

During Holy Week, we acknowledge Jesus sending His light to the nations as we see Him offer Himself up for us. We watch Jesus forgive all those who have forsaken Him and we watch Him conquer all sin and death. For it is Jesus, the light of the world, who saves the nations. Jesus not only saved those during His time, but he saves us during our time as well.  May we pray, Jesus I have forsaken you, allow Your light to shine over my darkness.

In the Gospel reading we hear the story of Jesus stating that one of the apostles will betray him and another apostle will deny him three times. Jesus stated that whom He gives the bread to is the one who will betray him. Jesus is deeply troubled by the betrayal of Judas that He tells him “What you are going to do, do quickly” Judas left at once, “and it was night.” “And it was night” is referring to Judas walking into the darkness which is an image of sin and rejection. 

For it is Jesus, who is light that helps us overcome the darkness. During this Holy Week, let us reflect and allow the Lord to overcome our darkness. 

After Judas left, Jesus tells the apostles that he will not be with them for much longer. He states that, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.” Peter asks Jesus why he cannot follow now and that he would lay his life down for Him. Jesus hearing this already knows that during The Passion Peter will deny Him three times. After knowing that Peter will deny Jesus three times, Jesus was never reluctant to still lay His life down for him, regardless of knowing that Peter would not do the same at the time. 

For this reveals to us that regardless of the amount of times we may deny Jesus’ love for us, he will selflessly sacrifice Himself for us. For this tells us that in Jesus’ love, there is always another day and another chance in following Jesus. May we pray, Jesus please help me find You in my darkest days, as You are the light that can overcome my darkness. If I deny You as Peter did, please help guide me to another chance in following in Your footsteps.  

- Sofia LoSardo, Class of 2023, Caldwell University

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