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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.