The Gospel of John 13:31-32
On
this Wednesday, Judas Iscariot has conspired with the Sanhedrin to support
their efforts to trap Jesus. He is paid the sum of 30 pieces of silver, enough
to purchase a slave or a good potter's field. How much money is
enough to sell someone's life to an enemy ~ what if the seller is a
trusted friend? But of course, Jesus knew it would be Judas...
Paul's letter to the Hebrews says: Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart [Hebrews 12:3]. When I have felt the world is against me, or life is just too hard, or I simply cannot cope with one more thing going wrong ~ did I ever once think of the suffering of Jesus at the hands of others? Have I ever thought of Judas if I did someone a wrong turn to benefit myself, even if "only" in a small way? Perhaps Jesus is too big in my mind to compare myself to and perhaps Judas is too bad...
On this Wednesday in our time some churches mark this evening ~ or some others will on Maundy/Holy Thursday or Good Friday ~ with a service called Tenebrae [ten-eh-bray]. The name comes from the Latin and means shadows or darkness. The service consists of readings and chanted/sung Psalms while candles are extinguished in sets between readings and chants until the church is completely darkened. Often at the end, in the dark, a sudden loud noise ~ a gong, slamming a large book, or stamping of feet ~ is heard as a symbol of the earthquake that signaled the death of Jesus. Holy Wednesday in Holy Week, hearkens back to the penitence of Ash Wednesday just a few weeks ago, as the solemnity of the mood of this Week of Weeks deepens.
Paul's letter to the Hebrews says: Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart [Hebrews 12:3]. When I have felt the world is against me, or life is just too hard, or I simply cannot cope with one more thing going wrong ~ did I ever once think of the suffering of Jesus at the hands of others? Have I ever thought of Judas if I did someone a wrong turn to benefit myself, even if "only" in a small way? Perhaps Jesus is too big in my mind to compare myself to and perhaps Judas is too bad...
On this Wednesday in our time some churches mark this evening ~ or some others will on Maundy/Holy Thursday or Good Friday ~ with a service called Tenebrae [ten-eh-bray]. The name comes from the Latin and means shadows or darkness. The service consists of readings and chanted/sung Psalms while candles are extinguished in sets between readings and chants until the church is completely darkened. Often at the end, in the dark, a sudden loud noise ~ a gong, slamming a large book, or stamping of feet ~ is heard as a symbol of the earthquake that signaled the death of Jesus. Holy Wednesday in Holy Week, hearkens back to the penitence of Ash Wednesday just a few weeks ago, as the solemnity of the mood of this Week of Weeks deepens.
O Jesus, the Light and Redeemer
of us ALL ~ this night reminds us of the story of Judas
conspiring with the Sanhedrin and selling you out. This night makes us
wonder how he could have done that to You. This night makes us shudder
about ways we might have betrayed another for our own benefit even if in
seemingly lesser ways. This night calls us to ponder true forgiveness
~ You have forgiven us for all of our sins and trespasses. But have
we ever forgiven Judas, the only Apostle never called "saint," the
only original Disciple to have died a remorseful death at his own
hand, the only one Satan entered [John 13:2] to do the bidding that fulfilled
the prophecy of our coming Messiah? Who is a Judas in our own lives
that we have not
forgiven? In whose life have we been a Judas? Can we take a
first step, this night, and breathe the life of forgiveness into Judas
Iscariot? Certainly Jesus has. God has. The Holy Spirit has. If we can take
that very small first step, then, with Your love and help, perhaps we can
look at forgiving the Judas closer to home and being forgiven ourselves. amen.
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