Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Tuesday of the Holy Week, March 31st, 2026

Delivered by Samuel Ivan Gunarsa from the Parish of Mary of All the Nations in the Diocese of Bogor, Indonesia. Isaiah 49: 1-6; Rs psalm 71: 1-2.3-4a.5-6ab.15.17; John 13: 21-33.36-38.A GREAT SADNESS Our meditation today has the theme: A Great Sadness.This sentence is enough to represent the feelings we generally have when weexperience sadness and disappointment in our lives. As an example, when the outcome of our job, struggle, longing, and hope ismerely a failure, we obviously feel very sad. It is simply futile ormeaningless. When we desire progress and development, while in reality it is simply a setback or even loss, we also feel so sad. Jesus Christ, even as the Son of God, is a humanperson like us. In the Passover meal with His apostles just before the deathsentence befalling upon him,Jesus' mind and heart were filled with great sadness. He obviously felt that hewas on the verge of death, but He seemed not too bothered about it. He already knew long before about His own death and hehad revealed it repeatedly. His great sadness was not because he was close todeath. He became so sad also not because he would soon leave the flock of Hischosen people. So many people who had sympathized and put their faith in Godthrough the works of Jesus, would surely feel great loss. But this had been told to them on a number ofoccasions, so this is not thereason for Jesus' sadness. The sadness of Jesus Christ was great and deep at thatmoment of the Last Supper. He was frank about it to the apostles, whom he loved so much. There was one thingto be the reason, namely the moment of saying "goodbye" seemed to be a sign of failure within the community of the first followers ofChrist. Two of Jesus' most trustedmen, who should have been the pillars of the community, had already shown a sign of setback.They showed a step backward. Judas Iscariot, as treasurer,would destroy the community. He was full of ambition to satisfy his worldlydesires with materialistic orientation. Money and riches became his life's orientation.His lust eventually brought him to earn only a small amount of money afterselling Jesus Christ into the hands of His enemies. This materialistic andworldly attitude would clearlydamage and destroy the community of believers and the society as well. Peter, as the first apostle, seemed not wise enough tospeak and act. He wanted to react quickly and wished to be a solution-makeraccording to his own interest, but in fact, his faith and understanding was not deep enough as it should be. Our lives in the family,community, and society must be able to avoid corruption and materialisticattitudes like Judas Iscariot. Unwise attitude in mind and deeds like Petermust also be avoided. We are taught to always follow Christ by renewingourselves constantly in order to be like Him. Let'spray. In the name of the Father ... O Lord Jesus, may we remain steadfast inour faith in You and be witnesses of Your truth in the midst of this veryfragile world. Hail Mary, full of grace... In the name of the Father ...