The mass was celebrated by our Chaplain Fr. Michael Gribbon. In his homily Deacon Andy Ciccaroni reflected on the role of forgiveness in the events of the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot.
"On this "spy Wednesday" we begin to hear of the actions of Judas Iscariot and how he begins the process of betraying Jesus. We know that Judas would ultimately take his own life, or another account says he simply disappears and is replaced among the twelve. Perhaps Judas realizes the severity of his actions and feels that there is no way he can be forgiven. He could not even come to forgive himself. And someone else finds himself in the same boat. Peter denies the Lord three times! Peter's actions are so bad that he weeps, but he does not lose faith, and Jesus forgives him.
This whole holy week is about forgiveness. If Jesus could freely give his life for us, how could he not forgive us for anything we could possibly do? If Judas had looked for forgiveness, he would have found that in the Lord. But he had to forgive himself first. Sometimes we believe that we are too far gone. There is no possible way that we can be drawn out of this, there is no way that anyone could look past what I have done. But God, forgives. We are a faith of second chances. As long as someone is truly sorry, we welcome them back. That is the message of Holy Week. Jesus gives up his life for us so that we may forgive others, so that we can live a life of forgiveness. We ask the Lord to help us live this life every day.
We have spent this Lent reflecting on the fact that things in this world are not as important as having a deep relationship with God. Nothing in this world can make us whole again except God's love. Perhaps we keep this in our minds as we move through the events of Holy Week and on to Easter Sunday. The reason Jesus gave his life for us is because he is God, he can forgive anything."
This whole holy week is about forgiveness. If Jesus could freely give his life for us, how could he not forgive us for anything we could possibly do? If Judas had looked for forgiveness, he would have found that in the Lord. But he had to forgive himself first. Sometimes we believe that we are too far gone. There is no possible way that we can be drawn out of this, there is no way that anyone could look past what I have done. But God, forgives. We are a faith of second chances. As long as someone is truly sorry, we welcome them back. That is the message of Holy Week. Jesus gives up his life for us so that we may forgive others, so that we can live a life of forgiveness. We ask the Lord to help us live this life every day.
We have spent this Lent reflecting on the fact that things in this world are not as important as having a deep relationship with God. Nothing in this world can make us whole again except God's love. Perhaps we keep this in our minds as we move through the events of Holy Week and on to Easter Sunday. The reason Jesus gave his life for us is because he is God, he can forgive anything."
In the coming days, may we all be reminded of the great love that God shows us each day and of that love made manifest on Calvary. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.