April 16, 2019
The Servant of the Lord
In Isaiah the people of God are defeated, and their church destroyed. They are taken away in chains and alienated from their land and their God. While in exile they are questioning their identity and their faith.
There has been times in my life when I have felt defeat and alone, as if everything was working against me. There were years spent not walking with God in my faith as a Catholic. I was living my day-to-day life existing in the world around me, not really giving it much thought, but I know now that there was something lacking and just not right. I was missing God. Once he led me back to the church and I got involved in the parish life here at St. Anthony’s, my life began to change. The chains that were holding me down in the past were no more. My life has a purpose again.
In Isaiah God is saying listen to me, all my people, not just a chosen few. I am sending a servant for all nations of the world who will light a pathway to salvation that will reach to the ends of the earth. He sent Jesus Christ Our Lord and Savior.
God has a plan for us all. He formed us while we were still in our mother’s wombs. It is up to us to listen to God and follow the correct path that he has set forth before we were even born. There are going to be times when we will falter and fall. But God will be there to catch you, all you have to do is ask him for his help.
The Betrayal of Jesus
During the Last Supper Jesus warns his disciples that one of them is going to betray him. He does not tell them why he will be betrayed only whom it will be. After Judas takes the bread he leaves and goes into the night.
Jesus tells the remaining disciples that he will be leaving them soon and they will not be able to follow him where he is going. He tells Simon Peter that he is going to deny him three times.
Jesus is preparing them for when he is gone. I don’t know, if they fully understood everything that he was telling them. It probably did not sink in until he died and rose again from the dead.
I don’t know what I would have done, if I had been Simon Peter, scared in the middle of a crowd with everyone screaming at him, pointing fingers in his face, I might have done the same thing he did. But, Jesus did forgive him in the end.
Just like he forgives us all. As long as we are truly sorry and confess our sins and promise to do well and sin no more.
Nancy McKee
St. Anthony Parishioner (RCIA, Eucharistic Minister, Volunteer Coordinator)
