Daily Gospel Reflection
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April 7, 2020
Reclining at table with his disciples, 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 afterward.”
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.”
Imagine you are one of the disciples sitting around the table with Jesus. He says that one of them will betray him. They look at each other at a loss as to what he means. Then he hands the bread to Judas telling him do what he is going to do. Again, none of the disciples realized why he said this to Judas. They were totally confused and drew their own (wrong) conclusions as to what was going on. Then Jesus said they could not come where he was going. They had no idea what was going on or what was to come.
I have felt this way over the last nine months–totally confused. My husband and both sons were killed in an airplane crash while on a fishing trip in Canada last July. Total devastation. I am still trying to make it through everything but I am surviving with the love and prayers of my ND friends and family. Then the global pandemic hit. How could things get worse? And yet they did. Over the last 3 weeks, I have been the subject of severe identity theft. My bank accounts, email, and other accounts were hacked and my cell phone numbers were stolen. The hackers have even threatened me personally and directly. It is horrible.
Nevertheless, there is one word in this passage that has always given me GREAT comfort. Jesus calls the disciples “my children.” We are not called “adults” or “intellectuals” of God. We are called children of God. And just like our children, we don’t understand many things. Nevertheless, we hope that our children love and trust us to help them through difficult times. I love and trust God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – to help me through this and I know God loves me. Believe and trust!
Prayer
On this Tuesday of Holy Week, Lord Jesus, we hear of the betrayal you suffered from Judas and of the foolish boasts of Peter. Their actions seem only to have reinforced your sense that you would suffer after being abandoned by many. Forgive our betrayals, our foolishness, our unwillingness to attend to those in need. May we learn not to fear suffering, and share your own openness to God’s will. You live and reign with the Father and the Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. John Baptist de la Salle is a patron saint of teachers and all those who work in education because he founded Catholic schools and revolutionized Christian education.
He was born in 1651 to a wealthy family in Reims, France, the eldest of 10 children. He went on to university studies and then entered the seminary, but had to leave because both of his parents had died, and John was left as the head of the household. Six years later, he finished his studies and was ordained a priest. He went on to earn a doctorate in theology.
John became associated with a community of religious sisters who educated young girls, serving as their chaplain. His connection with their work flourished, and he began to adopt their mission for education. He lived in a time when there was a large gap between the wealthy and the poor, and he believed that education was the best tool for those living on the margins to improve their lives and grow in holiness.
He was asked to help found a school, and he went to great lengths to support the teachers there, who lacked training and qualified leadership. He gathered them for meals in his own home, which was a big step at that time because he was still of the upper class.
He eventually founded a new religious community, the Institute of the Brothers of Christian Schools, known as the Christian Brothers (these Lasallian Brothers are a different order than the Irish Christian Brothers, who were founded by Blessed Edmund Rice). Looking back, he could say that he had no intention of becoming so involved—he began with the expectation that he would support teachers materially from his resources and offer supervision. Over time, however, he was drawn ever deeper into the mission of education through these teachers, to the point where he joined his life with theirs. He abandoned his family home and inheritance, left an important position with the Church, and dedicated his life to forming teachers.
By the end of his life, John and the brothers in his community had established a network of schools throughout France that taught students in the vernacular (not Latin), grouped them according to their ability, taught both religious and secular subjects, trained teachers in both skill and mission, and integrated parents into the educational endeavor.
One of his most lasting contributions was the way John pioneered the training of lay teachers. Today, his community of brothers contains some 6,000 men who work with many other collaborators to teach nearly a million students every year.
John died on this date in 1719, and his relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Notre Dame's campus. He is depicted in the Basilica in a stained glass window that portrays Catholic educators surrounding Jesus—he is the figure standing on the right.
St. John Baptist de la Salle, patron saint of all those who work in education—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. John Baptist de la Salle is in the public domain. Last accessed February 13, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
