Readings for the Day:
Original Manuscript:
There are two things that might not be readily apparent in today’s Gospel.
The first is what Jesus is doing. In that time, a way the host could show particular honor to a guest was by offering a prime choice of food. That is what Jesus is doing with Judas, who, it seems, takes this gift and goes and betrays Jesus anyways. That is why the text says Satan entered into him. It is because Judas has chosen the evil one’s ways, not Jesus’.
This also serves as a reminder to us in the times we turn from Jesus and betray Him. God is only offering us a gift. There’s no need for us to spit on that gift, so to speak. Yet the Good News for us is that God continues to do the work to help bring us back in.
The second part of this text shows Jesus sending Judas out to do what he intends to do. This is to show that even as Jesus is about to die and is being betrayed, He still has full control over the situation.
For times when we turn our backs on God or are just having a hard time, it is comforting to know that God is in full control. We may not always know what God is doing, or what direction God intends His plans to go, yet we do know that God continues the work of offering His Grace and bringing us back to Him, if only we will take His outstretched hand.