The worst sin in the Bible is not on the
customary list of major offenses. Quite plainly, the worst sin is betrayal. At
the core of every transgression is betrayal. In biblical folklore we learn of
Adam and Eve's betrayal of the Creator who had invited them to be guests in the
Garden. Likewise, Judas betrayed Jesus. Betrayers are usually loathed, because
they have done the worst that can be done to anyone. Think of a time when
you've been deeply hurt; wasn't some sort of betrayal involved? Remember the
pain, the anguish, the sense of being victimized? Have you ever betrayed
someone, perhaps by violating a confidence or breaking a promise? Were you
aware of the other person's deep suffering?
In today's Gospel we are confronted by the extremes of love
and betrayal! During the Last Supper, Jesus commanded his friends to love one
another, not everyone in the world, not all the Jewish people, but each other,
his new church. At the same time Judas betrayed that very Love lived fully by
his friend and mentor. This betrayal of holy Love was the worst in human
history. In a treacherous Roman trial God's living Word was condemned to
death.
Consider some of the meanings of this Holy Week. In these
events we experience Jesus' total devotion to God right to his death. We also
confront the extent to which human beings can betray and hate non-conforming
Love. With the Cross our own sufferings are put into perspective; few of us
will ever have to undergo anything remotely similar. The Cross divulges
graphically the ultimate misuse of human freedom: the killing of innocent Love.
Likewise, the Cross of Friday reveals the force and worst consequence of broken
relationships among human beings and with God: the slaughter of Goodness. This
is the historic moment when humanity's alienation from God's Will of Love, our
"NO!" to God, came sharply into focus showing its horrific reality
and power. On the Cross Jesus sacrificed himself for us, so that you and I
might grasp profoundly the extent to which relationships become debased when
the Love of God and neighbor is utterly betrayed. Indeed, the Cross appears to
repudiate all that Jesus stood for. If Jesus' death had ended it all, humanity
would have absolute justification for unending cynicism, gloom, and
hopelessness. The loving and righteous God of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus would
seem to have been overpowered, possibly non-existent. There can be no greater
darkness than that of Calvary.
To prevent that outcome, in a new Passover the Creator
intervened and raised the crucified Word of Love to ongoing life. God judged
and reversed the horror of the Crucifixion and uniquely vindicated all that
Jesus disclosed, including God's own sovereignty. Thereafter, his disciples did
not concentrate on his betrayal or agonizing death. Instead, they celebrated
the victory of his total offering, his self-sacrifice to God and for humanity,
as he loved perfectly. His Church then and now trusts and proclaims him as the
Risen Lord and Christ! Accordingly, we declare "Christ Our Passover Is
Sacrificed For Us!"
When you and I reach the darkest moments of our lives,
perhaps when we have been betrayed, victimized, and feel very alone on our own
lesser Good Fridays, we will endure and overcome our pain with a heartfelt
realization of the suffering and triumph of Christ. As God provided new life
for him after the worst, you and I, the Lord's contemporary friends and
disciples, can rely on the Holy Spirit to sustain us with victory. Our
resurrections will include a new vitality to prevail over present sufferings as
well as a victorious transition into God's continuing care when we die.
Liberated from the fears and bondage of any final devastation, we can be
confident of God's healing love and glory now and ever through the ministry,
death and Resurrection of the Suffering Servant, Jesus Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
The Collect for Wednesday in Holy Week
Lord, God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his body to be
whipped and his face to be spit upon: Give us grace to accept joyfully the
sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Gospel
After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and
declared, "Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me." The
disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. One of his
disciples - the one whom Jesus loved - was reclining next to him; Simon Peter
therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So while
reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?" Jesus
answered, "It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have
dipped it in the dish." So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave
it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. After he received the piece of bread, Satan
entered into him. Jesus said to him, "Do quickly what you are going to
do." Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought
that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, "Buy what
we need for the festival"; or, that he should give something to the poor.
So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was
night.
When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man
has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been
glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at
once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for
me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you
cannot come.' I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as
I have loved you, you should also love one another. By this everyone will know
that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."