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01 Lenten Reflections
02 Wednesday, February 22
03 Thursday, February 23
04 Friday, February 24
05 Saturday, February 25
06 Sunday, February 26
07 Monday, February 27
08 Tuesday, February 28
09 Wednesday, March 1
10 Thursday, March 2
11 Friday, March 3
12 Saturday, March 4
13 Sunday, March 5
14 Monday, March 6
15 Tuesday, March 7
16 Wednesday, March 8
17 Thursday, March 9
18 Friday, March 10
19 Saturday, March 11
20 Sunday, March 12
21 Monday, March 13
22 Tuesday, March 14
23 Wednesday, March 15
24 Thursday, March 16
25 Friday, March 17
26 Saturday, March 18
27 Sunday, March 19
28 Monday, March 20
29 Tuesday, March 21
30 Wednesday, March 22
31 Thursday, March 23
32 Friday, March 24
33 Saturday, March 25
34 Sunday, March 26
35 Monday, March 27
36 Tuesday, March 28
37 Wednesday, March 29
38 Thursday, March 30
39 Friday, March 31
40 Saturday, April 1
41 Sunday, April 2
42 Monday, April 3
43 Tuesday, April 4
44 Wednesday, April 5
45 Thursday, April 6
46 Friday, April 7
47 Saturday, April 8
48 Sunday April 9

Lenten Reflections

TUESDAY OF HOLY WEEK, APRIL 4, 2023

Click here for the daily readings

By Kathryn Williams ’24

Each time I read this Gospel, my heart cries out in frustration. It’s like watching a horror movie and thinking to yourself, why would they split up and search a dark house? We are frustrated because we all know where this story is going and we wish we could change it. I wish I could shake Judas and say don’t do it! I wish that the story would continue and I didn’t feel the dread of knowing that tragedy is about to strike.

The key here is our perspective. We know how things will unfold and it seems obvious to us. However, at the moment it is not. None of the disciples recognized or understood what Jesus said to Judas. If they did, it is reasonable to think they would have done something. Like the disciples, we don’t always recognize our wrongdoings in the moment.

The amount of love in this Gospel is astounding. Simon loved Jesus so much that he wished to lay down his life for him. Jesus asked him an honest, tough question, “will you lay down your life for me?” It is a beautiful thought, to envision a great love between us and God where both parties would sacrifice the ultimate gift for one another. It is easier said than done. Like Judas and Simon, all it takes is one moment, one morsel for us to stray from God.

Just as Jesus knew his beloved friends would betray him, God knows that we are imperfect beings and he chooses to love us through everything. God’s love for us is perfect and unending, even when we fall short. He offers us the grace of looking back on our lives and recognizing where we have failed. He offers us the sacrament of reconciliation so that we may renew our love for him and resolve to imitate his perfect love.

As Easter grows closer, we all know how the story is about to unfold. We can’t change it. But we have the opportunity to change our story. Let us take some time to reflect on our wrongdoings. Let us pray that God may open our eyes so that we can recognize temptation and give us the strength to choose him in the moment.