THE TRAITOR'S MORSEL

Tuesday in Holy Week
Jn 13:21-33.36-38

It was supposed to be a meal of friends but one of them turned out to be a traitor. He who took the morsel from the hand of his Master delivered his Master into the hands of His foes. He who sat at table with his Lord would have thirty bloody pieces of silver in his fold. The feast of friendship turned out to be their last supper with Jesus.

We have tasted this kind of meal. We have known this kind of feast. He who rose from the table raised his hand against his host. Sometimes we are the ones who rise from the table; other times we are the host. We have betrayed and have been betrayed. We have all shared this kind of meal. We have all partaken of this kind of feast.

It was night when Judas exited from the upper room; it was night when Satan entered him. It was night when Jesus fed Judas with the morsel He dipped; it was night when Judas fed Jesus to the bloodthirsty men. It was night when Judas left; it was night when the temple guards came to arrest Jesus.

We have gone through this kind of night. We have seen its darkness. He who came during the day escaped when night arrived. Some stay with us while the sun is up; others desert us when it begins to set. On the reverse, we brighten up some people’s lives while sometimes we also darken others’. We all have feared this kind of night. We have known this kind of darkness.

For whatever reasons we have, should we also rise from the table as traitor or as friend?