Lent Day 16: Thursday after the Second Sunday in Lent— The Apprehension of Jesus.

The Apprehension of Jesus.

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Read St. John xviii.  2-11.

[2] And Judas also, who betrayed him, knew the place; because Jesus had often resorted thither together with his disciples. [3] Judas therefore having received a band of soldiers and servants from the chief priests and the Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. [4] Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said to them: Whom seek ye? [5] They answered him: Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith to them: I am he. And Judas also, who betrayed him, stood with them.

[6] As soon therefore as he had said to them: I am he; they went backward, and fell to the ground. [7] Again therefore he asked them: Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. [8] Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he. If therefore you seek me, let these go their way. [9] That the word might be fulfilled which he said: Of them whom thou hast given me, I have not lost any one. [10] Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it, and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And the name of the servant was Malchus.

[11] Jesus therefore said to Peter: Put up thy sword into the scabbard. The chalice which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

Apprehension of Jesus, and the Healing of Malchus’s Ear (Tissot)

1.  When Judas had given to his Master the traitor’s kiss, Our Lord, knowing that His hour was come, boldly advanced to meet His enemies, and told them that He was Jesus of Nazareth.  At this word they went backward and fell to the ground.  If this was the result of Our Lord’s presenting Himself to them in His humiliation and abasement, what will be the terror and the dread of sinners when He comes again in all His glory?  O my God, grant that I may have no sin upon my soul, no debt still to pay, when I appear before the judgment-seat of Christ!

2.  The soldiers then advanced to seize Jesus.  St. Peter, with impetuous courage and loyalty, draws his sword and attacks the servants of the high-priest, and in the affray cuts off the ear of one of them.  But Our Lord checks him, and bids him put up his sword into the scabbard.  His loyalty was natural, not supernatural, and it did not endure long in the face of danger.  Natural motives, however good, will not serve the cause of God.

3.  When Our Lord was in the hands of His enemies, all the apostles forsook Him and fled.  Not one was found to remain by His side in His abandonment.  It was the will of God that He should suffer alone. “I looked about, and there was none to help; I sought, and there was none to give aid.”  Christ then suffered alone, and He can sympathize with that loneliness in suffering which adds so much to its bitterness.

 


This article, Lent Day 16: Thursday after the Second Sunday in Lent— The Apprehension of Jesus. is a post from The Bellarmine Forum.
https://bellarmineforum.org/devotional/the-catholic-daily/lent-meditations-preface-information/lent-day-16-thursday-second-sunday-lent-apprehension-jesus/
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