SERVANT’S DIVINE MISSION
Today’s oracle celebrates the Servant’s divine mission of salvation, with emphasis on its universality: “I will make you a light to the nations that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” (Is 49:6)
In the Responsorial Psalm are prayers for divine help that close with an affirmation of the longstanding relationship between the Lord and His Servant: “God, you have taught me from my youth; to this day I proclaim your wondrous deeds.” (Ps 71:17)
In today’s Gospel we hear about when Judas leaves to bring the guards, Jesus realizes that He is at the exact point of turning Himself entirely over to the will of His Father: “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him. (If God is glorified in Him,) God will also glorify Him in Himself, and He will glorify Him at once.” (Jn 13: 31-32) Not only had Jesus turned Himself over to His passion and death for the redemption of the world, but God had accepted His sacrifice and in an unknowable way glorified the humanity of His Son. Wow! All of this, because of God’s love for the world and His people.
Points to Pray and Ponder:
May the Holy Spirit give us the grace and strength in our time and testing of our lives. May we submit to Jesus Christ by walking in the light of His truth and love and by following Jesus in His way of the cross. Prepare to enter the holy days ahead!