THE WARNING TUESDAY

THE WORD IN THE HOLY WEEK

March 26, 2024: Isaiah 49:1-6; John 13:21-33,36-38

‘Listen’, ‘pay attention’… that seem to be the passionate call of the Word today – be it first reading or the Gospel. Reflecting on the life of Christ the exegetes say, today - this tuesday, might have been the last normal day that Jesus had with his disciples and followers, for soon frenetic happenings will begin, we know! Jesus knew the Jews were looking for him, waiting to trap him and wanting to destroy him. Yesterday we found them so desperate about the popularity of this man from Galilee! But what mattered to Jesus was not the opposition that was rising, but that his loved ones should not fall prey to the evil one! You are my beloved, yes, but be careful, be attentive, he warns them – on this day which could be called the Warning Tuesday!

It is not enough that you are servants of the Lord, ‘I make you light of the nations,’ promises the Word. That is what Jesus tells them too – you are not just followers, you are my friends, my witnesses, my substitutes – that is your call. But there are so many situations and crises waiting to pounce on you and devour you! Be warned, he says, listen and be attentive! No one seems to be listening – they are still in the hangover of the festive entry they witnessed and that concerns Jesus. He calls their attention passionately, just as the first reading calls our attention!

The Warning comes to us today – let us not be too taken up with our capacity, our achievements, and their celebrations… the enemy is prowling round like a roaring lion. If we are not attentive, we can easily fall prey. We are reminded to constantly raise a question within us: how committed are we to our relationship with God our Father and Mother?

Jesus warned Judas; he warned Peter, and all his apostles; but they were all too naive to take it seriously. Jesus was troubled in spirit, says the Gospel today. Let him not be troubled by our distractedness and our insensitivity to the Word. Let us sit at the feet of the Lord and examine our lives in the light of the Word.