Cesar Fernandez-Stoll

T oday , we do not consider any particular Gospel, inasmuch it is a day with no liturgy. But, with Mary, the only one who stayed firm in faith and hope after the tragic death of her Son, we shall prepare ourselves, in silence and in prayer, to celebrate the feast of our liberation in Christ, that is, the fulfillment of the Gospel. The sequential coincidence of events between our Lord’s Death and Resurrection and the annual Jewish celebration of Passover, commemoration of their liberation from slavery in Egypt, allows us to understand the feeling of liberation spread by the Cross of Jesus, new Paschal lamb whose blood preserves us from death. Another less remarkable time coincidence, but, nevertheless, rich in meaning, refers to the weekly Jewish holiday of the "Sabbat". It is observed from sundown on Friday, when the mothers in the family turn on the lights in every Jewish home, until dusk on Saturday. This is a reminder that after the work of creation, after having...

Gospel text ( John 18,1—19,42) : When Jesus had finished speaking, He went with his disciples to the other side of the Kidron Valley. There was a garden there where Jesus entered with his disciples. Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place since Jesus had often met there with his disciples. He led soldiers of the Roman battalion and guards from the chief priests and Pharisees, who went there with lanterns, torches and weapons. Jesus knew all that was going to happen to him; He stepped forward and asked, «Who are you looking for?». They answered, «Jesus the Nazarene». Jesus said, «I am he». Judas, who betrayed him, stood there with them. When Jesus said, «I am he», they moved back and fell to the ground. He then asked a second time, «Who are you looking for?» and they answered, «Jesus the Nazarene». Jesus replied, «I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, let these others go». So what Jesus had said came true: «I have not lost one of those you gave me». Simon Peter ...

  Gospel text ( John 13,1-15) : It was before the feast of the Passover. Jesus realized that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father, and as He had loved those who were his own in the world, He would love them with perfect love. They were at supper and the devil had already put into the mind of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray. Jesus knew that the Father had entrusted all things to him, and as He had come from God, He was going to God. So He got up from table, removed his garment and taking a towel, wrapped it around his waist. Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel He was wearing. When he came to Simon Peter, Simon said to him, «Why, Lord, you want to wash my feet!». Jesus said, «What I am doing you cannot understand now, but afterwards you will understand it». Peter replied, «You shall never wash my feet». Jesus answered him, «If I do not wash you, you can have no part with me». The...

Gospel text ( Mathew 26,14-25) : One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went off to the chief priests and said, «How much will you give me if I hand him over to you?tdc. They promised to give him thirty pieces of silver, and from then on he kept looking for the best way to hand him over to them. On the first day of the Festival of the Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said to him, «Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?». Jesus answered, «Go into the city, to the house of a certain man, and tell him: ‘The Master says: My hour is near, and I will celebrate the Passover with my disciples in your house’». The disciples did as Jesus had ordered and prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, Jesus sat at table with the Twelve. While they were eating, Jesus said, «Truly, I say to you: one of you will betray me». They were deeply distressed and asked him in turn, «You do not mean me, do you, Lord?». He answered, «he who will bet...

Gospel text ( John 13,21-33.36-38) : Jesus was distressed in spirit and said plainly, «Truly, one of you will betray me». The disciples then looked at one another, wondering who He meant. One of the disciples, the one Jesus loved, was reclining near Jesus; so Simon Peter signaled him to ask Jesus whom He meant. And the disciple who was reclining near Jesus asked him, «Lord, who is it?». Jesus answered, «I shall dip a piece of bread in the dish, and he to whom I give it, is the one». So Jesus dipped the bread and gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And as Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus then said to him, «What you are going to do, do quickly». None of the others reclining at table understood why Jesus said this to Judas. As he had the common purse, they may have thought that Jesus was telling him, «Buy what we need for the feast», or, «Give something to the poor». Judas left as soon as he had eaten the bread. It was night. When Judas had g...

Gospel text ( John 12,1-11) : Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where he had raised Lazarus, the dead man, to life. Now they gave a dinner for him, and while Martha waited on them, Lazarus sat at the table with Jesus. Then Mary took a pound of costly perfume made from genuine nard and anointed the feet of Jesus, wiping them with her hair. And the whole house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. Judas, son of Simon Iscariot —the disciple who was to betray Jesus— remarked, «This perfume could have been sold for three hundred silver coins and turned over to the poor». Judas, indeed, had no concern for the poor; he was a thief and as he held the common purse, he used to help himself to the funds. But Jesus spoke up, «Leave her alone. Was she not keeping it for the day of my burial? The poor you always have with you, but you will not always have me». Many Jews heard that Jesus was there and they came, not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus w...