WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO, DO QUICKLY

Is 49,1-6; Ps 70; Jn 13,21-33.36-38
27 MARCH
By now, Judas is determined to deliver Jesus to the Jews. Jesus knows his evil intentions, but does not stop him: “What you want to do, do it soon”. It is right to ask oneself: “Why does Jesus, while declaring to his disciples the immediate betrayal, do not prevent this from happening? What is the reason why Judas is left to his decision?”. The answer is highly anthropological. Jesus becoming man, must submit to the law that governs human nature. This is made of choices. It can choose good and can choose evil. Choice cannot be prevented. The other can be helped so that he does not choose evil, but orients himself towards the good. But when the choice is taken and it is our very nature, then we must submit to it. This is the cross that every man must bear. All the passion of Jesus, indeed all of life, for Jesus was a very heavy cross. Even many miracles He made were a heavy cross, because it was the fulfilment of choices of men. But Jesus had already revealed this to his disciples and had already established it as their perennial law.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on (your) right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect (Mt 5,38-48).

The whole passion of Jesus is a submission to the law that governs the nature of man. Man chooses for Him and He submits with immediate and prompt obedience. When must we not obey this law of human nature? When obedience transgresses the Commandments of the Father, the Word of the Father and the Will of the Father. Since it is the Father’s will to carry the cross of the choices of men, Jesus cannot stop Judas. He would have placed himself out of the law of his father.

When he had said this, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant. One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ side. So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant. He leaned back against Jesus’ chest and said to him, “Master, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it.” So he dipped the morsel and (took it and) handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. After he took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”  (Now) none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him. Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or to give something to the poor. So he took the morsel and left at once. And it was night. When he had left, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.  (If God is glorified in him,) God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you. Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered (him), “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.” Peter said to him, “Master, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”

He lives this law only who is rooted in a very pure faith in the Lord, who is the only Lord of history, the only one who governs it with his Providence. In this faith our life has already been handed over to Him, from the first moment of our existence. He will know how to govern it, guide it and move it. Jesus also passes through the betrayal of Judas.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints make us of true faith in Christ.