Gospel: John 13: 21-33, 36-38
Today's Gospel portion demonstrates the illusions of faith we so often carry with us and that need removal in our lives. We begin with the statement of Jesus that one will betray him. At hearing this each disciple - and us - all say: "Surely, it is not I, Lord!" Even when the betrayer is revealed the rest of the disciples are entirely clueless as to what is happening, still immersed in their own religious bravado, only to be repeated when they all state that they will die for the Lord.
This second boast is followed by Jesus telling their leader that he will deny him three times that very night. Meanwhile, the rest of the braggarts - yes, we too - will abandon the Lord and hide in fear. How often do we boast of our fidelity to the Lord, only to find ourselves rejecting him in the person of our neighbor whom we would malign and dehumanize! How often do we leave people abandoned to the bloodlust of the crowd wanting death and deportation!
Today's Gospel scene is a reenactment of the Pharisee and Publican at prayer in the Temple. So often religion is the bravado of the Pharisee and our disciples today, and so rare is it the Publican's humility that we do not even find that humility in a single person in the upper room. Today is a day for us to reflect on that scene once again and to find the humility we need to own our bravado and have that be what is crucified within us this week.
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