The passage found in the first reading is commonly called the Servant's Song. It is about the suffering of an individual who is described as a 'disciple'.

The portrayal of the disciple here recalls the suffering of the prophet Jeremiah who was "like a trusting lamb led to the slaughter" (Jer.12:19) and his pain is continuous (Jer. 15: 8) yet God made him "a solid wall of brass" (Jer.15:20). The disciple in the Suffering Song, like Jeremiah, is upheld by God in the face of adversity.

In contrast to the true disciple, we have, in the Gospel passage, the figure of another disciple, Judas. Unlike the true disciple who is willing to suffer for the sake of God's righteousness, Judas, the false disciple wants to preserve himself. He seeks money from the chief priests to betray Jesus. The betrayal is made all the more serious because Judas is willing to do it even though he shares a meal with Jesus. Truly, greed, deceit and pretence are at work in the false disciple.

Today, many of us profess to be disciples of Jesus. But are we truly? It is easy to be a disciple by name or title. The true character of a disciple is revealed in his or her actions in times of great trials, sufferings or temptations. Times like these determine whether we are living or acting as a true disciple or a false one.

So, when was the last time you experienced a great trial, suffering or temptation? Did you act like a true disciple or a false one?