Why We Can't Follow Now

 Reflection on Today’s Readings, Tuesday of Holy Week, April 12th, 2022
Texts: Isaiah 49: 1-6; Psalm 71: 1-6ab.15ab.17; John 13:21 - 33.36-38
Jesus Christ tells us, today, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now; but you shall follow afterward.” Where is Jesus Christ going? He is going to Golgotha , where He will suffer and die for us all.  Judas is ready to betray Him for money. He is not going back on his decision. Despite the fact that Jesus tells them that someone among the apostles will betray Him, he continues in his evil desire. Everything is working to make a reality the passion. We are not to be like Judas Iscariot who is adamant and will still go on to do the evil in his heart, despite the premonition given by Jesus Christ. We are not to be like a stubborn fly that follows the dead to the grave.  
Perhaps, Judas Iscariot is adamant because of the money involved. Some of us are already in bondage because of money. We should not love money to the extent of not listening to the voice of God, warning us against evil. One thing that is  worthy of emulation in Judas Iscariot is his firmness in his decision; we should be firm in our decision to follow Jesus Christ, no turning back. Just as Judas chose money as his driving force, eternal life should be our own driving force. We should know that it is eternal life that fulfils our desire not to die.
Jesus Christ tells us we cannot follow Him now because we still love pleasure and still cling to our lives. This is because we still love this world more than heaven, we love this life more than eternal life. It is very difficult for one who loves pleasure to submit to suffering and pains; a pleasure-loving people find it difficult to do penance. When we still hold firmly to this life, we will not be able to give it up for God.  
Jesus tells us that we will follow later to show  that we will still share in His passion, we will still follow the path He is about to follow now. Participation in the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ is a necessity for all Christians who are His followers. This affirms once again that He is the Way. In Him we learn that there is resurrection after the agony of the cross. 

 
Almighty ever-living God, grant us so to celebrate the mysteries of the Lord’s Passion that we may merit to receive your pardon.

Fr. AndrewOlowomuke