Today’s Theme for Prayer – Jesus Makes Me His Intimate Disciple
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
How Do I Gain Deeper Personal Knowledge of God
When the intellect is ravished through love by divine knowledge and stands outside the realm of created beings, it becomes aware of God’s infinity. It is then, according to Isaiah, that a sense of amazement makes it conscious of its own lowliness and in all sincerity it repeats the prophet’s words: ‘How abject I am, for I am pierced to the heart; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips; and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts’ (Isa. 6:5).. St. Maximus the Confessor
The Betrayal and the Dawn of New Creation
Jn 13:21-26
When Jesus had said this, he 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.
Grace Prayed For
The grace to trust in Jesus’ love so deeply that we rest in His presence, even in moments of uncertainty or suffering.
Reflection
In this intimate and sorrowful moment, we see Jesus, deeply troubled, knowing that betrayal is at hand. Yet, even in this darkness, the light of God’s kingdom is breaking through. The cross looms near—not as a defeat, but as the very act through which new creation begins.
Jesus does not react with anger or condemnation. Instead, he extends the morsel to Judas—a gesture of hospitality and love. Even to the one who would hand him over, Jesus offers a place at the table. This moment reflects the heart of God’s kingdom: a kingdom not built on vengeance, but on forgiveness; not on power, but on self-giving love.
The disciples, at a loss, do not yet understand. They look to each other, uncertain, as we often do in moments of confusion and doubt. Yet John, the beloved disciple, leans close, resting against Jesus’ chest—a posture of trust and intimacy. In the chaos of betrayal and fear, he remains near, listening to the heartbeat of the One who is making all things new.
Judas takes the morsel, and soon he will walk into the night. But what Judas means for evil, God will turn for good. Jesus will go to the cross not as a victim, but as the King who brings renewal. His suffering will birth redemption, and his resurrection will signal that God’s new creation has begun.
As we reflect on this passage, we are invited to draw close to Jesus as John did—to trust, to listen, and to be part of the work of new creation. In a world still filled with betrayal, suffering, and confusion, we are called not to despair, but to participate in God’s unfolding renewal. The cross was not the end. It was the beginning.
Growing in Intimacy/Union with Jesus
In times of confusion or sorrow, we often long for answers—but what if we longed for presence instead? In the Gospel of John, one disciple responds to the moment of betrayal not with fear, but by resting against the heart of Jesus. What does it mean to lean into Christ’s love, to trust Him enough to abide in His presence even when we don’t understand? This reflection invites you into the mystery of divine intimacy, where love is greater than fear, and Jesus’ heart is our home.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post