FEELING ALONE

HOLY TUESDAY

 

 FEELING ALONE

 

“Will you lay down your life for me?” – John 13:38

 

When I was in my fourth grade, the teacher asked us to write down and submit to her the names of our top two best friends in class. After doing that she made a nice chart of how everybody linked up. Guess what? None of them wrote my name. Although it was not an emotional experience, I did feel quite alone.

Having experienced Jesus in a personal way, I found myself devouring His Word, changing my ways and serving Him but intimidating people at home. Because of this, conflicts around me began. I felt quite alone.

After selflessly devoting my time to serving the Lord in a community, its leaders asked me to stop participating in ministries for unclear reasons. It hurt and I really felt alone.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus foretold betrayals and denials of people close to Him; people who ate, laughed and cried with Him, who witnessed and benefitted from His miracles! The Lord experienced deep loneliness. He felt alone.

At the cross, He felt a total loss of connection, enough for Him to say, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” He paid the price to endure and conquer so we can go through the pain of “being alone” with Him… and enjoy His company. Ariel Driz (adriz77@yahoo.com)

 

REFLECTION:

Have I turned to Jesus in my loneliness?

 

Lord Jesus, thank You for allowing Yourself to be lonely at Calvary so that I may share the joy of being with You. Let me reach out to others who are going through the same.

Amen.

 

TROUBLE INSIDE THE CIRCLE

 

St. John’s Gospel has the longest coverage about the last supper and the last night of Jesus with the Twelve (cf. John 13–18). Our specific Gospel story for this day, in a way, reflects to us the climate within the circle of the Twelve. Up  to the last night of Jesus, they did not seem to understand everything that was happening, and perhaps even everything that was going to happen. They were busy guarding themselves against each other; they seemed very much into their raw element as selfish human beings. When Jesus began revealing to them about the upcoming betrayal that one of them would commit, they did not try to help resolve the issue. Instead, each one was simply interested in extricating himself from the issue. Each one was busily deflecting the possibility that the betrayal will involve him. Peter himself was trying to gain some positive points over the others, and tried to pledge his loyalty to Jesus who was quick to warn him about his own denial of Jesus “before the cock crows.” The disciples were not listening to Jesus, nor were they paying attention to one another. They were engrossed with their individual selves.

Honoring the Passion and Cross of Jesus during these holy days challenges us: the Christian disciple is one who can forget about his convenience, his issues, indeed forget about himself and, like Jesus, sacrifice oneself for others. Jesus on the Cross is not just the lesson of saving death that the Son of God underwent for us. Jesus on the Cross is the icon of genuine self-gift, service, self-effacement. Jesus on the Cross is the highest illustration of Jesus’ own teaching of “washing another’s feet.” Jesus on the Cross is the icon of genuine love and friendship. The Cross contains the wisdom of authentically being inside the circle of Jesus’ friends. Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP

 

Reflection Question:

Whenever tight situations in the family, in the office, in school, in the friendship circle arise, what is your first usual reaction? Do you tend to bring everyone in and together resolve issues? Do you tend to move away and disappear from the scene? Whichever is your option, what are your reasons for doing so? Talk to Jesus about this.

 

Lord Jesus, help me to be like you in my relationships. Give me wisdom to know the right thing to do.

 

Blessed Amadeus IX of Savoy, pray for us.