A Spiritual Reflection for Holy Wednesday – April 16, 2025
In a powerful scene from one of the greatest Yugoslav films, Don’t Look Back, My Son (Ne okreći se, sine)—a film my generation watched countless times—a father sends his son running toward freedom. “Don’t look back!” he tells him, while he himself stays behind—sacrificing his life. The tension is real: the father dies, the son survives. That tension—between life and death, betrayal and faithfulness—echoes in today’s Scripture readings.
In today’s Gospel (John 13:21–32), we witness another moment of deep tension: Another son—the son of perdition—Judas Iscariot walks out into the night. Betrayal is at the doorstep. But Jesus—the Son of God—remains faithful to the very end. “What you are about to do, do quickly.” The light does not retreat. Love does not flinch.
And then comes the message from Hebrews 12:1–3, like a flash of clarity:
“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross… so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Don’t look back.
The drama of Holy Week invites us too—to take our stand on the side of goodness, love, and faithfulness. To not lose heart.
Sin tempts us to stop, to turn around.
But love calls us to run.
All the way.
Toward the light.
Toward the resurrection.