Author: lakewooducc

With tensions mounting and death imminent, Jesus celebrates the Passover among his friends. He is an observant Jew. As tradition dictates, he has gone to Jerusalem for the festival. The meal is over. They have commemorated God rescuing the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt. They have praised the God of liberation.

Now Jesus takes his friends off to Gethsemane to pray. He knows that for him there will be no rescue. There will be no liberation. The cross awaits him. Death is near. Jesus knows he needs to pray. To connect with God. To stay centered. To tap into divine strength and peace. He needs this now more than ever.

We are told that Jesus is grieved and agitated. He prays for deliverance, but will accept the consequences of his faithfulness to Divine Love. We could argue that this is Jesus’ lowest moment. His greatest challenge. He needs God and he needs the support of his beloved friends. Yet what do the disciples do when asked to pray for but an hour? They fall asleep. Again, Jesus asks them to pray with him, and again they fall asleep. How can they sleep at a moment like this? With such tension in the air? With the last moments with their beloved teacher slipping away? In the presence of the deep need of the one who has responded to all of their needs, how can they sleep?

Why might the disciples have fallen asleep? Too much food and drink? That is certainly an issue in our culture both literally and figuratively. Our lives are too full. We are saturated with possessions and images to maintain. And, yes, we do generally eat and drink too much. Too full to be attentive, available, and responsive. Were the disciples in denial? No, Jesus isn’t really going to be crucified. It’s just rumors. Scare and intimidation tactics. Maybe the disciples were effected by the shadow of Passover. God rescued the Hebrews, surely God will save Jesus. Were they thinking, Jesus doesn’t really need us? He’s the strong one. He’s the one with the direct line to God. We aren’t needed. He’ll handle everything. He’s just being nice asking us to stay awake with him. Trying to make us feel needed and important to him. What do you think about why the disciples fall asleep in this story?

In his remarks on Palm Sunday earlier this week, Pope Francis made reference to this scene in Gethsemane. The Pope asked, “Has my life fallen asleep?” I think that that is a very good question for us this Holy Week. Are we asleep? Are we so busy with some things that we are ignoring what we should be paying attention to? Do we think that we have nothing to offer? Do we not see the needs around us? Are we saying we are leaving it all up to God as a testimony of our strong faith when really we just don’t want to be bothered?

Recently we have heard more about the killing of the boys in the Dozier School here in Florida. Who was asleep while that was going on? Who had their head down, looked the other way, ignored the heinous murder of those boys? Who was asleep as the brothers grew into terrorists and bombed the Boston Marathon? What adults in their lives were asleep and not seeing what was happening to them? Who in their lives was oblivious to the direction they were going? Who was asleep while they let evil overtake them? Who is asleep to the climate crisis manifesting around us? Who has their eyes closed and doesn’t want to see the changes that are taking place and the changes that are needed? How are we asleep to the needs of those closest to us? Are we asleep to how self absorbed we have become? Who is sleeping while the world is begging for healing and hope. How are we asleep? Will we wake up? Will we let the undying love of Jesus open our eyes? Wake us up? Energize our beings? Jesus is not asleep. He is waiting for us, praying for us.

Prayer: Jesus, wake us up to the full and abundant life that awaits us when we follow you. Wake us up to the joy that comes from being in solidarity with those who are falsely accused, unjustly condemned, or innocent victims of institutional violence. May our attention be focused on you as you promised to come to us – in the least of these. Amen.

We just need to hear the name Judas and we think “betrayer.” He is known as the villain of all eternity. Judas, who turned Jesus over to the authorities. Judas, who gave Jesus the kiss of death. Judas, who wanted the money from the oil used to anoint Jesus to be sold and the money given to the poor. Judas, who sells out for 30 pieces of silver. Judas, who kills himself. Judas. Want to label someone a betrayer? Just call that person “Judas” and the message is clear.

Was Judas, a Zealot, a political radical ready to take up arms against the Roman Empire, disgusted with Jesus’ non violent tactics? Did Judas give up on Jesus as Messiah because he would not embrace the role of military leader and stage an armed rebellion? Is that why we know Judas as a betrayer? Because he felt betrayed by Jesus?

Whatever the reason, in paintings, artwork, altar carvings, and the rest, you can single out Judas. He is always set apart in some way. His back is turned. His clothes are dark. He’s in a shadow. Something distinguishes him. There are the disciples, and then there is Judas.

In some alternative interpretations, Judas is seen as the one closest to Jesus. The one who is most willing to give all, to sacrifice. The one who really understands the political implications of what is going on. Judas realizes the danger and the risks they are facing. We never hear Judas counter Jesus when Jesus mentions that he must suffer and die. Judas is not the one to say, “No, not you, Master.” While Peter misses the boat again and again, and the others quibble over who is the greatest, we never hear Judas caught up in those games. Some see him as the one Jesus could most trust because he had the best grasp of what they were about. Some interpreters think that Judas is the one who most understands Jesus’ mission and ministry and that is why he agreed to betray Jesus. He knew Jesus had to be a martyr to further the cause so he helped Jesus to accomplish that. He was the only one strong enough and faithful enough to be fully obedient. And so he betrayed Jesus to fulfill the plan that had to be carried out.

Then there is newer scholarship based on recent findings of ancient texts that offers other possibilities. Jesus came from God, from heaven, from another realm. And he needed to return there. And the only way for that to happen was for Jesus to die. In this scenario, Judas betrays Jesus out of love and compassion. He wants to help Jesus get back to the divine bliss with God that he left to live an earthly life.

We will probably never be able to sort out the full story of Judas. But what we are learning is that good and evil can both be disguised masterfully. Something that appears good may in reality be just the opposite. What appears bad may actually be good. It can get quite complex sorting out motivations and consequences in ways that lead to clear ends. Yes, we must be willing to sacrifice to be faithful to God, but what will that sacrifice entail? It may not be what we expect. Before we point the finger at others, judging their behavior, this is a week to examine our own lives, our choices, our behavior, and look at the sacrifices we are making. Are they really for God? Or for ourselves? Or for less worthy ends? How are we putting ourselves on the line for love?

Prayer: In this intense week we focus on the earthly life of Jesus. We consider the sacrifices that he made and the good that he did. May we learn from the various images of Judas to truly examine our own choices and to proceed fearlessly. Despite the complexities of our times, we pray for wisdom and courage to do whatever we are called to do to further the commonwealth of God. Amen.

In the gospels there are versions of a story about Jesus having his feet anointed with oil. In two versions, they are at dinner at the home of Simon the leper, and a woman comes and pours the ointment on his head. In the gospel of John, the anointing occurs at the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha in Bethany. The woman is Mary. She pours the oil on Jesus’ feet and wipes with with her hair.

In all three stories, the disciples are angry about the expense involved. Apparently the oil or ointment is very expensive. They are worked up about the waste. Doesn’t that sound familiar? We can’t afford it. Something more important could be done with the money. It could have been given to the poor.

But this attitude misses the point of the anointing. Anointing was part of the burial ritual. This was preparation for what was to come. It was acknowledgement of the poignancy of the moment. How many people say, “If I knew she was going to die, we would have spent the money and taken that trip we always dreamed about.” Or think of the Dream Fund giving kids who are dying an experience they have always wanted. In the face of death, we may spare no expense for our loved one. Maybe the disciples are simply still in denial about what is to come for Jesus. They just cannot accept it or face it. But Mary or the woman validate Jesus’ reality with the oil. Helping him prepare to face what he must face.

Anointing with oil is not just for death. It is also a ritual that is used for designated service. When selecting a leader for instance. When Samuel goes to choose a new king from among Jesse’s sons, he anoints the chosen one, David, with oil. The anointing of Jesus with oil is also a mark that he has been chosen by God for particular service. This is a high honor and a significant responsibility.

Jesus is anointed. Anointed for service and anointed for burial. He fulfills his mission with obedience and faithfulness. And because of his unwavering devotion he faces death. The anointing reminds us that service involves sacrifice. Faithfulness involves risk and can be costly. Obedience can be deadly.

When you think about it, where in today’s society do we see people willing to make a commitment that involves facing death directly? The armed forces. Suicide bombers. Law enforcement. But Jesus gave his life for healing, reconciliation, anti violence, and fairness for the poor and marginalized. Where do we see that kind of obedience and faithfulness today?

Prayer: We are all afraid of death. We do not want to die. And yet we know that we cannot be fully alive without committing ourselves to a greater good. Without devotion and risk we are only going through the motions but not living deeply or fully. May we accept the consequences that come with faithfulness. May we open ourselves to being anointed by God for service knowing that service entails sacrifice. That is what brings us closer to God, to others, and to joy. We pray this through the one who gave all. Amen.

Local drama. We recently had our children visit from New York and they read the Tampa Bay Times which is delivered to our house each day. I found myself filling them in on different things in the paper because so much of it is of local interest – to the Tampa Bay area and to Florida.

In reading the gospel accounts of the last week of Jesus’ life, in a way I have the feeling that I am listening in on the local news of a small town in a backwater locale. The town council is upset. There’s drama over this upstart. There is authority to protect. Damage control to consider. There is back room politicking about how to handle things. Covert deals being made. It’s kind of reminiscent of the troubles in rural towns in the south during the civil rights movement.

When I read the gospel stories of the ending of Jesus’ life I don’t get the feeling that the people really had a sense of the wider implications of what was going on. I think if you asked the High Priest Caiaphas, “What do you think people will be saying about this 500 years from now?” he would have looked at you like you were crazy. There is a sense in which you can see these people dealing with this stressful challenge during difficult circumstances but it has the appearance of a local, temporary crisis. You don’t get the feeling that the people in the stories saw this as part of a much larger narrative with far-reaching consequences. They certainly did not expect to be the subject of an on-line devotion 2000 years later let alone the centuries of reflection and scrutiny that their situation has received.

When someone is president of the United States there is discussion of how history in the near and far future will deal with that person’s time in office. I don’t think the people of Jesus’ day in the story of the last week of his life had any sense of this. Now we know that this story has wider implications. It is a defining story of human history to date. This story is read, re-read, analyzed, preached on, written about, investigated, translated, picked apart and put back together. The behavior and attitudes of the major players are studied and scrutinized. I don’t think any of them expected this. And yet it has occurred.

This is a week to think about our behavior, our attitudes, our choices, our dealings with the challenges and crises of our day. How will we stack up under scrutiny by future ages? What will be said about us? Maybe there won’t be discussion of us as individuals, but certainly our era, our cultural context, our world situation will be examined. How will we fare? What will we be remembered for? How will our decisions be regarded by future generations 2000 years from now? That is, if humanity still exists.

Prayer: The life of Jesus reminds us that the unfolding of history takes place through ordinary every day actions and decisions. The love of God, cosmic, eternal, and mysterious is made known in the everyday workings of nature, creation, and, yes, in day to day mundane human life. Without full knowledge of the outcome may we have the courage to embody divine love each and every day even if it leads to death. This is the way of Jesus. This is the way of life. Amen.