Ordinary Time
Wednesday 29 October 2025
Psalms 110, 111, 112
1 Maccabees 7.1-20
or 2 Chronicles 29.1-19
John 13.21-30
The thought for the day is from John 13.21-30
‘Lord, who is it?’ (v.25)
Did you ever experience one of those days at school when your teacher said someone in the class had done some terrible thing, and no one was going to lunch until the culprit was found? I used to shrink in my seat trying not to be seen. And though I was usually innocent, I often thought it might be me who had broken some petty rule. The tense atmosphere made us all feel guilty. I sense the disciples squirming as Jesus says one of them will betray him. They need to know who it is, so Peter gets the one closest to Jesus to ask: ‘Lord, who is it?’ Even then they don’t realize that the one Jesus sends out into the night is being drawn into a perilous betrayal by Satan, the deceiver. This scene is especially heart-breaking because Judas is one of God’s own. Called, chosen, trained and loved by Jesus, Judas is used by evil forces to try to snuff out the light.
Betrayals from inside the family, Church, friendship groups, workplaces, charities or political parties are the hardest to bear because we think we know and trust each other, and have often shared much together. I wonder how Jesus felt as he realized that no amount of love and care could keep Judas from betraying him. We’re reminded that even those closest to Jesus can be tempted into betrayal. But let’s remember too that betrayal is not the end of the story.
COLLECT
Blessed Lord,
who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
help us so to hear them,
to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them
that, through patience, and the comfort of your holy word,
we may embrace and for ever hold fast
the hope of everlasting life,
which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Reflection by Catherine Williams