April 16, 2019 TUESDAY OF HOLY WEEK-C

Isaiah 49:1-6

Psalm 71

John 13:21-33, 36-38

“…one of you will betray me.”  John 13:21

“…you will deny me three times.”  John 13:38

Lord, how deeply hurt and disturbed you must have felt to know that the betrayal and denial of your closest friends was about to take place.  After you had given them so much, they failed to resist Satan and their weak human natures.   It’s so easy for me to judge those who betrayed, denied and abandoned you in your suffering.  How could they do such a thing?  Yet I too have accepted the lies of Satan and given into my weak flesh more times than I can count.  Have I deeply hurt and disturbed you too?  When we rely only on our own will power and our own strength we too often fall short.   We make poor choices, fail to love and selfishly seek our own ways.  Lord, I can’t follow you to Calvary without your grace.  I would rather hide than see you suffer.  May I turn to the Spirit who gives me strength to avoid the deceptions of the devil and my own frailty.  The good news is that Peter turned it around and was not lost.  With the power of the Holy Spirit he bounced back and became a faithful, loyal and courageous saint of your church.  Amen.