Meditation J 13,21-33.36-38

Stand in God’s presence. God is present here and now, looking upon you with love.

Ask for the Grace: I will beg God our Lord that all my intentions and actions may be directed purely to the praise and service of His Divine Majesty

Fixing a place, a picture for meditation: Jesus and his disciples eat a meal, probably in the house of the evangelist Mark. See a table with food and drinks. Probably it is not high. In those days meals were usually eaten lying down, semi-recumbent because of the convenience. Stay there. Hear the Judas’s betrayal, Peter’s denial. Feel the atmosphere of Jesus leaving, saying goodbye to Him.

Ask for the fruit of meditation: for the desire to stay, to be always with Jesus

1.I encourage you to enter the considered scene of the last supper. Try to find for yourself a place at the table where Jesus sits with his disciples. Look at Jesus, who is deeply troubled and testified. In the Greek translation there is the word etarachthe, which describes a rough sea or an earthquake. So how great is the strength of feelings and emotions that Jesus experiences. He probably knows that his life as a human being is coming to the end. Perhaps he feels that he sits with his disciples for the last time. With all disciples, including Judas who betray him. Jesus speaks of the traitor, perhaps he hopes that he will be able to attract Judas to himself, that this last chance of retreat from betrayal will be noticed by Judas. Feel a certain drama of this scene. Be with Jesus during this supper. Maybe there will be some conversation between you and Jesus? You are a beloved disciple of Jesus, too. So maybe you will put your head on Jesus’ chest? Stay with him. Today he needs you.

2.The disciples have been with Jesus for three years. During this time, they could look closely at what Jesus says and does. And yet they do not understand anything. They are unable to see the traitor among themselves, they do not understand the announcement of the death of Jesus. Peter, who declares that he will give his life for Jesus, for a moment he will deny him. Disciples are close and far away at the same time. Jesus is among the closest friend, but still lonely and misunderstood.

Look at Jesus’s loneliness. After all, he built relationships with the apostles so much! And they behave as if they do not know him. Jesus has no grudge, he does not reproach anyone. He still trusts and still falls in love with a man.

a. Look at your life, relationships. How many times, when, in what situations did others let you down? How did you behave then? What did you do with your pain and regret?

b. After betrayals, Jesus goes on, he goes to Golgotha. It is the way of his love, of mercy for man, for you. What is your path of mercy?

3.Look again at the meditative scene. Jesus treats everyone the same, he is the same for each man – full of love, although in his eyes you can see human fear and disagreement about what is happening. For Jesus, however, the most important thing is to fulfill the Father’s will, to be close to Him. Put yourself in the place of Jesus and see what is born in your heart in this situation, what is the inner light, hope for you. What is the light in the difficult situations of your everyday life? Where do you get your strength? You can ask for the gift of courage in the difficult moments of your life.

Meditation: St Ignatius encourages in The Spiritual Exercises No. 2 … Because not so much knowledge, but internal feeling and the taste of things please and saturate the soul, that is, we stay where we feel interior movement … and nervously do not try to go on.

The final conversation: Spend a little time at the end, being with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit….as you would with a good friend: sometimes talking, sometimes listening, sometimes being together in silence. Speak to God about your feelings. Remember that times when ‘nothing is happening’ can also be significant. When you’re ready, end your prayer by saying thank you or using words that are familiar,such as the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father)–whichever feels right and comfortable. (The Spiritual Exercises No.54)