Homily for Tuesday of Holy Week

In his account of the Last Supper, John intertwines two elements: imminent loss and future triumph. Even among those who sat at table with Jesus, there was one who would betray Him and another who would deny Him. He had to struggle with their lack of understanding of what awaited him the next day. But John knew that Jesus faced this supreme trial with a strong hope and willing acceptance. This is also our hope, as we commemorate the sacred events of Holy Week.

The “beloved disciple” seated next to Jesus is an inspirational image of the kind of person we are all called to become. This disciple is not named in John’s gospel, because we are all invited to link our name to his, to identify with him and to learn from him, for we are all called to be beloved disciples of Jesus.+