Word to the Wise
Tuesday, March 22, 2016 - Holy Week - Tues
[Isa 49:1-6 and John 13:21-33, 36-38]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 wil not crow before you deny me three times.' [John]
The scene at the last supper in today's gospel scripture from the Gospel of John contains not one "traitor" but two: Judas Iscariot and Peter. We may be accustomed to thinking of Judas as the betrayer and put Peter's conduct in a different category, but both are betrayers. At least Judas did not deny knowing Jesus! In Peter's case, fear of being arrested might have been the motive. After all, we are told that all the disciples fled from the garden. Yes, Peter did draw a sword and maim a servant named Malchus, but then he must have run away, too. The motive in Judas' case may have been money, but I am inclined to think there was some loss of faith involved.
The experience of betrayal is a personal one. We may experience it in a number of ways. Perhaps we were expecting support from a friend who then turns against us? Perhaps someone shared confidential information with a third party? Jesus warned the disciples more than once to expect betrayal as a part of being a disciple!
Tradition portrays all sin as a "betrayal" of Christ. I think this may be casting the net a bit too broadly, but we should be aware of betrayal by slow erosion. We may find it hard to imagine doing what Judas or Peter did, but their conduct is surprisingly modern. Money can take the place of faith. Fear and embarrassment may keep us from speaking the truth about our discipleship. Holy Week offers us a chance to bring our "betrayals" and lay them at the foot of the cross. Jesus will include us in his prayer: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." AMEN
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