Thursday 15 May 2025 - A betrayal in the group

Thursday 15 May 2025

Today is Thursday the 15th of May, in the 4th week of Eastertide.    Ex Cathedra, directed by Jeffrey Skidmore, sing Dulce Jesus mio. “My sweet Jesus, look with mercy on my soul.” This is not the prayer of someone proud or haughty or self-satisfied, but of a person aware that they have weaknesses and shortcomings, aware that they cannot do without the help and the love and the mercy of God.    Yya1 Jesuchrixhto,  apuk1rui  ityaku niyausus1p1  ninait1 sobi.  Dulce Jesús mío,  mirad con piedad  mi alma perdida  por culpa mortal.  Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.    John 13:16-20  ‘Amen, amen, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfil the scripture, “The one who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.” I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he. Amen, amen, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.’  Step into the scene… perhaps as one of the disciples in the upper room…   Jesus has just washed the everyone's’ feet… a deep and surprising act of servanthood….  As you place yourself there, notice what you are wearing… what the room smells like… the sound of voices…the water used to wash feet… how do your own feet feel? Are they still damp? Dry? Refreshed?     Now turn your attention to the words Jesus says at this moment… How does it feel to hear about a betrayal in the group?     As you listen again, get a sense of the atmosphere in the room… what do you notice?   John 13:16-20  ‘Amen, amen, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfil the scripture, “The one who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.” I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he. Amen, amen, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.’  As this time of prayer comes to a close, how do you take leave of this place? How do you part with Jesus? Speak to him as one friend speaks to another…   Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.   As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be  World without end  Amen