Word to the Wise
Monday, April 11, 2022 - Holy Week - Mon
[Isa 42:1-7 and John 12:1-11]Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my Spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations, not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street. A bruised reed she shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, until he establishes justice on the earth.....[Isaiah] "Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me." [John]
Parents and grandparents are very familiar with the repeated request of a child or grandchild to hear a story over and over again. And each time, although the child (and the parent/grandparent!) knows the whole story and its dramatic ending, he/she experiences the story with the same enthusiasm and understanding. I feel that way about Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday.
The first scriptures for this week (Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri) are taken from Isaiah and are traditionally known as "the songs of the suffering servant." They seem downright eerie because they seem to describe Jesus and his mission and its meaning so deeply and emotionally. The early Christian community turned to these in their effort to understand the terrible events of this week. The last of the four is read on Good Friday and it never fails to move me.
The gospel scriptures for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday all feature Judas. Today's passage, from the Gospel According to John, speaks of what one might call the "next to last supper." It is a meal at the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. The scene would be amazing enough because Lazarus, freshly restored to life, is present! Martha and Mary seem to repeat the scene from the Gospel According to Luke [10:38-42] in which Martha is serving and Mary is at the feet of Jesus, listening to his word. In today's gospel, she anoints his feet which Jesus interprets as a prophetic gesture of his death. Judas tries to distract from the power of the scene (perhaps already knowing what he was about to do?) by reducing it to a matter of money (three hundred days wages and thirty pieces of silver?). The old definition of a cynic comes to mind. They know the cost of everything and the value of nothing.
Tuesday and Wednesday, the scene will shift to the Last Supper and Judas' behavior. It would be easy to point the finger at the tragic character of Judas, who shared in the Lord's life and ministry, only to turn the Lord into a matter of money in the end. But the events of Holy Week occurred for US! Judas would not be the only weak one. The disciples would run from the Garden of Gethsemane. Peter will deny three times even knowing Jesus! Where are we in this drama? As baptized Christians, we are part of this, and not merely spectators! Judas would identify Jesus with a kiss! What are we saying when we kiss the cross on Good Friday? Judas will have a lot of company but he will not know the joy of the ultimate triumph as we are enabled to do in faith. Stay tuned! AMEN