Each week I try to read the Sunday readings in preparation for Mass. This past week I was struck as I read the opening line from the gospel. “When Judas had left, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.” – Jn 13:31. A simple line, but the Holy Spirit drew me to the person of Judas. I asked the question, “Lord, where is the Judas in me?” The Lord’s plan for our lives rarely looks the way that we expect and want it to. Judas expected and wanted Christ to overthrow the Romans and establish an earthly kingdom. He could not accept the divine plan and ultimately becomes one of the most tragic characters in the bible. His rejection of Christ’s plan ultimately leads to self-destruction. When we reject the Lord’s plan for our own lives, perhaps because it doesn’t look the way we want or is not what we expected, we follow Judas on the path to destruction. Instead, Jesus told us that if we would be his disciples we must take up our crosses and follow him. We must surrender ourselves to to Christ’s will, His plan for our lives. Although, we resist, there is no better place to be than united to Christ. Today, ask yourself, “Where am I trying to tell Jesus what He should do? Where am I resisting his plan and where am I being called to simply take up my cross and trustingly follow Him?” Surrender, whatever the Lord shows you. I pray that this reflection will be as fruitful for you as it was for me.