Word to the Wise
Tuesday, April 3, 2012 - Holy Week - Tues
[Isa 49:1-6 and John 13:21-33, 36-38]Peter said to him, "Master, where are you going?" Jesus answered him, "Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later." Peter said to him, "Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times."
During Holy Week I often challenge my congregation (including myself) to enter into the tremendous drama of events. One way of doing this is to put ourselves "in the shoes of" various characters. Today's gospel scene offers us two contrasting pairs of shoes: Judas' and Peter's. The gospel first presents us with the declaration by Jesus about a betrayal. Somehow Judas manages to escape without being revealed, but the gospel makes it clear what kind of errand he is on: "And it was night!" We know little about his motives? Did he need the money? Had he lost faith in the future of Jesus' cause? We don't know. But his shoes are there in front of us.
The second pair of shoes belongs to Peter. Here we have a more "sympathetic" character: strong, loyal and impulsive. His protest of loyalty unto death ironically fails because of his impulsive fear of sharing Jesus' fate! Jesus can see through this protest and warn Peter of the trap he is setting by his own words. Eventually Peter's faith reasserts itself and Jesus renews his (Peter's) commission: "Feed my sheep."
In the days ahead, we will have the opportunity to try on other shoes. Today's choice is an uncomfortable one. We may be afraid that both pairs will fit! We won't know till we have tried on both. Holy Week can shake us to the roots of our faith. AMEN
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