For the readings and prayers of today's mass, please go to
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The betrayal. In our gospel we hear Jesus' prediction of how one will betray him. As it turns out, Jesus's prediction was an understatement. Not only would Judas betray Him but so would Simon Peter, and for that matter, almost all the others who would desert Him and flee after Jesus' arrest. The only one who didn't was the Beloved Disciple, John, who later would stand at the foot of the cross.
When reading this passage, there is a natural temptation to be a judgmental spectator. Bad Judas. Bad Apostles. Bad Simon Peter.
I'd like to focus on Simon Peter today. Dear Simon Peter. Loud, proud, impetuous, courageous, foolish, and a betrayer. He speaks of how he will follow Jesus through thick and thin, how he will lay down his life for Him. But these prove to be just words. Mere, hollow words.
Simon Peter's words bring to mind many other situations in which I have heard fervent words spoken with great conviction and love and caring become just words. Mere, hollow words. For example, the words spoken at a wedding reception in which the best man or maid of honour speaks of how deeply they love and care for and will always be there for the one they represent, as well as the new spouse. But within months these words become just like Simon Peter's words - for the relationship between them that was so strong, so forever, is now ruined by betrayal and back-stabbing.
Or at the reception after a funeral. Friends and relatives go up to the grieving spouse and profess how that spouse can always count on them for support. But within a few weeks all that support withers and fades. And the grieving spouse is so, so alone. But we say, "Hey, I told them to call me whenever they needed to talk". No, excuse me, how about you call them?
As you continue to read and reflect and pray with the stories of Holy Week, please just don't be a mere spectator, judging from afar. No, immerse yourself in these stories - like today's gospel. And then consider - have you ever been on the receiving end of betrayal? Have you ever been told words that proved to be just mere, hollow words? How does that feel? Or, on the other side, have you ever been a Judas, a Simon Peter or one of the deserting Apostles? When the going got tough or a friend or relative, yes you got going - in fact, you disappeared?
Words. Mere, hollow words. That definitely does NOT apply to the words we encounter in our scripture stories this week, or for that matter any of the words we read in the Bible. Thankfully for us, these are real words. With real meaning. Words that inspire us, challenge us, nourish us. How blessed are we to be able to read, and to hear, such words.
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Thank you and bless you for taking the time to read my reflections. I encourage you to continue to join our fellow parishioners in our Virtual Holy Week. The complete schedule can be found by clicking on the Virtual Holy Week at Nativity schedule posted on the homepage of the website by Courtney on April 4th.
The Archdiocese of Toronto has also some Holy Week resources on its website. If interested, please go to
https://www.archtoronto.org/covid19/Pages/holy-week.aspx
Finally, as I mentioned yesterday, we are unable to hold the drive through confessions on Holy Saturday as we had originally hoped. For more details, please go to the end of yesterday's reflection (Monday of Holy Week).