Holy Spirit of Jesus, enkindle my faith to keep the Light of Christ in sign in the night…

 
John 13: 21–38 & Matt 26:14-26
 
Holy Spirit of Jesus, enkindle my faith to keep the Light of Christ in sign in the night… 
 
The darkness of a power outage reminds us of the darkness that enfolded the disciples as they left the Upper Room. Little knowing the significance of the Last Supper they had just experienced, Judas Iscariot and Simon Peter portray two common reactions to the redemptive sacrifice of Christ Jesus. Judas, the betrayer is like anyone of us who attends the Table of the Lord in Holy Communion, and then when darkness falls, relies entirely on his own plans, projects, and purposes to save himself/ herself. Peter on the other hand walked into the night pregnant with faith, “I will stay with you Lord”, and then, like Judas takes care of #1 by denying he ever had anything to do with Jesus.  Both Judas and Peter stumbled and fell in the darkness, but the outcome for each was entirely and eternally divided; Judas condemned himself to despair out of touch with God’s mercy, and chose to dangle at the end of a short rope. But Peter, who had an undying, though small faith in his Master’s Mercy wept with repentance for his separation from his Master, and through his humility and honesty worked his way through the darkness of the crucifixion to be a present witness to his Resurrected Lord. Aside from Judas and Peter, there was a small group of other disciples whose faith in God did not waiver through all the darkness of Christ’ Passion and Death. Instead, John and Mother Mary, and two of her women friends walked with Jesus, keeping their focus fixed on his Love and his Truth.  In the darkness of these day, will I stumble powerless in the night, forgetting the Mercy of Holy Communion with Jesus?  Or will I choose to look to the Light no matter what the world throws out?  Holy Spirit of Jesus, enkindle my faith to keep the Light of Christ in sight, in the night.   
 
I believe I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the Living.  Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! (Psalm 27:13,14) 
 
Satan has received permission to test all of you, to separate the good from the bad, as a farmer separates the wheat form the chaff.  But I have prayer for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you turn back to me, you must strengthen your brothers.
Jesus to Peter at the Last Supper, as reported by Luke (22:31, 32)
 
 
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
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