Welcome to the Saturday Examine.

Each of this week's readings has the impact of a hammer blow.

We begin with the extravagant gift and loving touch of Mary of Bethany,

and Jesus' quick defense of her in the face of Judas condemnation. We move on to the moment of betrayal as Judas chooses to go out into the dark, while Peter makes promises of a loyalty he's unable to fulfil, while also being unable to face his hidden vulnerability.

The moment of truth comes to all the disciples round the table of the Last Supper, as it has come to Peter.

All will fail, and through the mercy of Jesus, all will come to be reconciled and to grow in faith and self-understanding.

Thank you. and self-understanding. Jesus gives the great sign of service by washing his disciples' feet,

while his last gift to his disciples and to us is his mother.

Music The What has most caught your attention in this week's readings, and why?

The conversations we hear between Jesus and his disciples are short and very much to the point.

Has he said anything that touches into your own life, or your sense of discipleship in a particular way?

Yeah. way. ...you know, Jesus gives the sign of his body in the Eucharist, and in what Pope Francis calls, touching the suffering flesh of Christ in others. His body and his whole life are given for us.

How does this speak into your own understanding of the Eucharist

and what it asks of you in terms of service of Christ in others?

No. The The From the cross, Jesus cries out his thirst.

Psalm 63 says to God, My body pines for you like a dry,

weary land without water.

Here, God's dying son expresses his physical need

and God's thirst for our response to His grace and mercy. As you think about all that Jesus gives to us in the name of his father as his passion unfolds,

what do you find yourself wanting to say?

Perhaps it is sorrow and repentance for sin. Perhaps a prayer for help in your struggles,

or for God's healing of the wounds you carry, or those of our broken world.

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