Try to visualise, in your prayer today, the suppertime scene described in the gospel, and see yourself there with Jesus and His twelve specially chosen and trained apostles. Something dramatic and shocking is about to take place, and Jesus is troubled in spirit about it. In just a short time He's going to be arrested and His passion will begin. And the immediate agent of that arrest is one of His own close circle, there in the room sharing supper with Him. Listen to Him saying that one of them will betray Him, and then watch their incredulous, alarmed, puzzled reaction. See Judas leaving the room, and how the others notice his going but think he's just gone out on an errand. They didn't suspect him? What were they thinking and saying among themselves.

In your prayer, follow this prayer exercise. Talk to Jesus, and ask Him the questions you have about what's happening, and why it should be happening this way. What were His feelings about Judas? Talk to Him about your own fears that you too might betray Him in your weakness. Ask Him to let you share something of what was troubling Him, because you want to walk close with Him in this passion time and Holy Week, learn to carry His cross with Him, and so follow Him to where He calls you to be. Reflect on yourself in this scene, and recall how even Peter disowned Jesus, despite his pledge to lay down his life for Him. But Peter wept bitterly for what he'd done, and Jesus loved him.