NOTE: This is a look at the Daily Gospel Reflections that Fr. David and Fr. Rafael write on days that we do not have a livestream Mass. Today, everyone in Flocknote is receiving this, but in the future only those who chose the "Daily Reflections" group will receive them. If you would like to make sure you are in this group, please reply to this message and we will make sure to add you so that you continue to receive these reflections in your inbox. Your response will only be seen by the "note" sender. Enjoy today's reflection!
FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK
Wednesday of Holy Week - April 8, 2020
Matthew 26: 14-25
In these days of Holy Week, Judas the Apostle is mentioned many times. We remember his sin: he sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
Two things are touching me very much:
Two things are touching me very much:
Firstly, in my eyes Judas’ decision is not the biggest problem. His desires and his thoughts play the crucial role here:
What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?
What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?
Wrong desires are leading us to wrong actions and bad decisions, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.
What kind of desires do I have? What is in my heart? What sort of thoughts? What am I thirsty for? What am I afraid of? What do I like to think about? Who am I?
The second thing which always strikes me are Jesus’ words, "one of you will betray me." Judas the Apostle will betray me. The Apostle. One of us.
Judas was spending so much time with Jesus, but still something somewhere went wrong. For some reason his temptations, his desires, his thoughts, his relationship with money seized him. At that moment this Apostle failed greatly.
What can we do to protect ourselves from such mistakes? Pray more? Spend more time with God? Go to confession more often?
What can we do to protect ourselves from such mistakes? Pray more? Spend more time with God? Go to confession more often?
I don’t have a ready answer or the only right solution for you. But, I would say...be humble. Be honest with yourself. Try to see clearly what is in your heart and what is in your thoughts. Ask someone who is important to you what they see in you. Don’t ignore anything in your life. Be patient with yourself. Don’t give up on the person you’re becoming.
There is always time for God. There is always hope for God. We do make mistakes. We are sinners. We can love, though. We can change things. We can do better next time.
God loves you. Don’t give up because of “one bad chapter in your life”.
Be blessed +
Father Rafael
Father Rafael
