PRAYER:

Thank you, Lord, for showing me how to respond in grace when I am betrayed. Thank you for your mercy and grace towards me, even when I let you down.

Forgive me Lord for the hardness of my heart and for my reluctance to be gracious to those who have let me down. Soften and cleanse my heart O God. Make me like you.

Lord, I choose to forgive any who have hurt me, turned against me, gossiped about me, mocked me, robbed me, excluded me, let me down or dishonoured me, just as you forgave those who abused you. I choose not to hold anything against them Lord, trusting you to help me accomplish forgiveness. Amen

READING 1:

“Then, while [Jesus] was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs, who had come from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. His betrayer had arranged a signal with them, saying, "the man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him and lead him away securely." He came and immediately went over to him and said, "Rabbi." And he kissed him. At this they laid hands on him and arrested him.”

(Mark 14: 43-46)

READING 2:

"When day came the council of elders of the people met, both chief priests and scribes, and they brought him before their Sanhedrin. They said, "If you are the Messiah, tell us," but he replied to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I question, you will not respond. But from this time on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" He replied to them, "You say that I am." Then they said, "What further need have we for testimony? We have heard it from his own mouth.""

(Luke 22: 66-71)