John 13:21-32
"Holy Week" Wednesday - Years A, B, C
Yesterday we heard that Satan entered Judas with an offering of Jesus Bread. Here we hear that the devil had already gotten to Judas before the meal. Tricky business honoring ancient recordings of experience. In typical fashion even a single eye-witness can have multiple perceptions of the same incident.
While betrayal is a constant background possibility, being prepared to not be controlled by what others do or are not doing is critical to moving ahead. This preparation is enhanced through our intention to love one another, anyway.
To those who have held true with me in my betrayals, thank you.
To those I have been true with in their betrayals, you're welcome.
Now how do we move on to increase the folks we will identify as within a community of “one another”? There is an abundance of love to go around when we can see beyond our own nose to someone else’s nose (whether cute as a button or a humongous honker it is their nose and therefore beautiful).
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2013/03/john-1321-32-holy-week-thursday.html
Betrayal is troubling. Announcing an accomplished act before its time is troubling. There is much that is troubling.
We have heard tell of a marvelous product, Powdermilk Biscuits, that give one the strength to get up and do what needs to be done. Is it not also troubling that Jesus Bread is reported to be a trigger for a Last Temptation (read your Kazantzakis)?
How do you square innocent Jesus with instigator Jesus?
In specific, how does triggering a betrayal become identified as “glorification”? Humpty Dumpty seems to be working overtime in redefining words. It would seem that the crucifixion and resurrection are bonuses, while the real reason for the season is this moment of betrayal. Yes, there are the reports of Matthew, Mark, and Luke to contend with, but is this the decisive play of the game and if so, what might it mean in the life of the Church or an individual such as me, you, in contemplation of this scene?
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2013/03/john-1321-32-holy-week-wednesday.html
Very truly, I tell you, each one of you will betray me.
And so it is. We all do it in our own way. Some larger. Some smaller.
Betrayal to authority.
Betrayal of self-avowed loyalty.
Betrayal of others.
Betrayal of witness by comrades.
During this last week it is probably time to acknowledge those betrayals, whether of Jesus or the least of his sisters and brothers.
Given the time, energy, and resources available to us choices have to be made and in so doing we betray one part of our desire or another.
In the midst of this reality, what is left? Glorifying G*D?
Not even betrayal will keep glory at bay!
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2005/march2005.html
We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses to the cloud of behaviors within. Today the warring of sore throat, bloated belly, and constricted head are all things I would leave behind. Along with them I would leave all the helpful family system techniques that are so helpful in conflictual settings (internal and external). I would also sit out any race someone is trying to sign me up for. I'll take any kindness offered, even from a hand that tells me I am dead to them. I don't care if I am supposed to be nice and conciliatory, whatever is hurting me - get rid of it, now!
Hurry help along the way. May it race to me even if I can't race toward it. Here in the middle of preEaster week the wrestling happens between Demonstration Sunday three days ago and Betrayal Thursday just around tomorrow's corner.
It all comes together into a perfect storm, inside and out. All that is left is perseverance and not even that looks doable. Soul's Dark Night arrives again. It has passed in the past but that is little comfort in the present.
"Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together."
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_04_01_archive.html
etrayal is upsetting, no matter who is dealing with it. With a whiff of betrayal scented we are aroused to resolve it - is the betrayer you? is it me? can it be avoided?
Here it is the action of Jesus to stimulate the fears around betrayal and to initiate not only its recognition, but its engagement.
Jesus will be betrayed by the person to whom he gives the bread of sustenance. Jesus gives it to Judas. Then this interesting line, “After he (Judas) received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him (Satan?), ‘Do quickly what you are going to do.’”
Of course the disciples heard nothing (the equivalent of thunder in place of a voice announcing belovedness or glory) and made up a story of where Judas went. If they had known, they would have had to do something about it, intervened between Judas and the Pharisees.
If we extend this passage to Hebrews 12, we might also find Judas among the cloud of witnesses. We learn not only from saints, but sinners.
One of the things we learn is that Jesus enters his next round of tempations with his eyes wide open. There is no plea here to be delivered or turn back. May you enter your next time of temptation with your eyes wide open. In this way you will glimpse a glory worth following.
- - -
For a perspective that the conflictual information about Judas in the Gospels and the lack of reference in the Epistles might suggest that Judas is a fictional necessity for the Jesus story, you can check thisshort review.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2011/04/john-1321-32.html
The sadness here is not about betrayal as such. Its result triggers Jesus’ expected end-point of arriving in Jerusalem. This same result could have come directly from the Romans or those Jewish leaders afraid of the failure of another rebellion. In this results-driven world we continue to be after end-points that aren’t dependent upon one process as they are easier to achieve—if at first you don’t achieve by losing, you can try and try again.
In John, it is Jesus who betrays Judas Iscariot. Jesus doesn’t raise a question or tell a parable, he gives permission by way of bread and thereby encourages Judas’ action.
Being the optimistic folks they are being trained to be, the disciples miss all this with their overactive speculations.
Note here that Jesus claims glorification at this time of betrayal. How much earlier might Jesus have claimed this “glorification”? Does it go back to the glory-hallelujah of angels in Bethlehem? Since we are in John, as far back as “in the beginning”? Perhaps his experience in Jerusalem as a lad? Surely as far back as Baptismal Belovedness? One or more of the healings or other miracles?
Why would Jesus claim glorification, resurrection, or vindication at this point?
Since it is the last Wednesday of Lent, remember the ashes of the first Wednesday—from dust you have come; to dust you shall return. Did you claim glorification, resurrection, new life weeks ago? If not, perhaps next year. Or, perhaps yet today? Will you wait for Sunday to make glory officially yours?
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2014/04/john-1321-32-wednesday.html