RBWords

     Today's passage from the Last Supper discourses is another example of the evangelist's effort to include a piece of tradition that he had at hand.  He uses the dramatic device of statement, misunderstanding, clarification that he has used throughout the gospel.  But the overall theme of preparing the disciples for the events to follow remains.  The grief that they will experience at his death will be turned to joy at his resurrection.

     We are in a different position two thousand years later.  We have the whole story before us, not only in this gospel but in all the Bible.  It takes some effort to enter into the experience of that somber evening.  We capture some of it on Good Friday when the passion account from the Gospel According to John is read (along with the passage from Isaiah describing the suffering of the "Suffering Servant).  Still, we are the spiritual descendants of those disciples and their experience has been handed down to us, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, by the evangelist, along with the task of proclaiming the story of Jesus' life, death and resurrection and the gift of the very Spirit that inspires our efforts.  It takes effort to follow these discourses, but the rewards can be great for us and for those who will hear us proclaim their truth.  AMEN