The Two Paths of Jesus and Judas – Mar 27 – Homily – Fr John Lawrence

 

Fr John Lawrence gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Mar 27, 2024, where he explains Jesus' acceptance of suffering as part of God's plan and encourages us to trust in God through our own challenges.

He discusses the parallel journeys of Jesus, the Lord's servant, and Judas, the betrayer, highlighting Jesus' fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecies and the Christian call to embrace suffering as a path to righteousness. He emphasizes Jesus' willingness to suffer, not as a consequence of sin, but as a righteous servant, teaching us the value of obedience through suffering. Jesus' actions, from not resisting Judas' betrayal to his conduct at the Last Supper, illustrate his complete trust in God's plan, urging us to accept our own sufferings as part of God's will for us. Father also reflects on Jesus' ultimate glorification through suffering, drawing upon St. Paul's words about the transient nature of affliction leading to eternal glory and the fulfillment of scripture through Jesus' crucifixion, as foretold in the Psalms.

Biblical references:

Isaiah speaks to us of Jesus: "The Lord God has given me a disciple's tongue" - Isaiah 50
"He learned obedience through what he suffered" - Hebrews 5:8
"This is a hard saying, who can listen to it?" - John 6:60
"This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison" - 2 Corinthians 4:17
"Zeal for your house consumes me" - Psalms 69:9, fulfilled in Jesus' cleansing of the temple - John 2:17
"They put gall in my food, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink" - Psalms 69:21, fulfilled on the cross - John 19:29
Jesus, the servant, was sold for thirty pieces of silver - Matthew 26:15

00:00 - Introduction to Jesus and Judas: Parallel Lives
00:23 - The Mystery and Service of Judas' Betrayal
00:46 - The Comfort and Suffering of Christ as Told by Isaiah
01:31 - Learning Obedience and Acceptance Through Suffering
02:45 - The Mission of the Servant: Suffering for Righteousness
03:11 - Christ in the Responsorial Psalm and the Cleansing of the Temple
04:28 - Fulfilling Prophecies: Jesus' Passion and Resurrection
05:14 - The Plot of Betrayal: Judas' Role and Jesus' Last Supper Preparation

Ave Maria!

Mass: Wednesday Holy Week - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032724.cfm
1st: isa 50:4-9
Resp: psa 69:8-10, 21-22, 31, 33-34
Gsp: mat 26:14-25

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1773

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