Word to the Wise
Tuesday, April 15, 2014 - Holy Week - Tues
[Isa 49:1-6 and John 13:21-33, 36-38]"My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, 'Where I go you cannot come,' so now I say it to you." Simon Peter said to hi, "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."
Every scripture passage in Holy Week is filled with images that we could spend much time in meditation. The first scriptures for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday all come from the "suffering servant songs" of Isaiah. The early Christian community immediately turned to these to these for language that would help them understand what happened to Jesus. I urge the Beloved Congregation to spend some time with these passages.
Today's gospel scripture from John offers two important thoughts. The first is the reference by Jesus to "where" he is going. This refers to the very large theme of "coming and going" that overlies the gospel. Jesus "comes forth" from the Father and "returns" to the Father. The second important thought is that Peter [and we] will join him at some point despite our weakness and betrayals. Note in the gospel passage that reference is made to TWO betrayals - the one by Judas and the one by Peter. Judas goes away into the night! Peter will try to defend Jesus in the garden and then follow him after his arrest to the high priest's house where he denies knowing Jesus three times before the dramatic cockcrow. Later on, he will protest his love three times and Jesus will urge him on. There's hope for us all!
In his Palm Sunday homily, Pope Francis urges us to "impersonate" someone in the Holy Week drama! This is a challenge to "engage" the events and scriptures of the time. I pray we can all respond! AMEN