As if to withdraw and give evil its free reign, today Jesus leaves Jerusalem, probably to Mary and Martha’s home in Bethany. His enemies, however, take no respite and find their diligence rewarded. As Jesus reclines with the faithful while Judas walks to Jerusalem and trades the Savior for a sack of silver.
Read Luke 22:1-6
With Jesus gone the city regains the measure of normalcy possible in the midst of Passover. And Judas, prompted by Satan, makes his way to the Sanhedrin. Luke tells us they are delighted. His covert mission was urged on and endorsed by the very enemies his Lord was striving against. Today Jesus will lose a friend, the Disciples will lose a companion, Israel will lose a Messiah and God will set into motion his eternal plan to save that which was lost.
Read John 13:18. His love was not erased by his enemies. Their schemes only served to cast his devotion in a brighter glow.
Prayer:
O my Christ, how deep was the betrayal you suffered for your Church and soon even the faithful would desert you in a Garden. Still, you would not allow your love to be stayed nor surrender your mission. Your love begins all love, waits for no one to love you first. It overflows upon the unlovely like a river over falls. O Lover of my soul, love me with this everlasting love and make me love you more. Amen.
Prayer Prompts
Pray for a divided world that’s at odds about justice, money, history, values, politics, sexuality, etc.
Pray that you won’t compromise truth or the honor of Christ in a van effort to reconcile those tensions.
Pray for the faith and courage to live and speak in love as if Jesus is truly the only One who can bring the world peace.
Pray for the love to suffer with Christ, to endure hardship, contempt, exclusion, and loss just as he did for you.
