So You Must Do

Gospel: John 13: 1-15

In a medieval village there was a man who needed to bring a load of goods to someone in another town.  He owned a donkey he intended to use to carry the load, but the man was unable to get the donkey to work.  Frustrated and exasperated, he finally reached out to some friends seeking advice on how to get the donkey to move.

One friend said: "Beat the donkey - that'll get him to move." The man tried this without success.  Another friend suggested: "Add more weight to the load - that'll teach that donkey!" This too failed.  Yet a further bit of advice: "Yell and berate that beast - he'll move for that!" But that friend's pedagogy was also a failed enterprise.  

Finally, a friend came along and said, "Share the burden with the animal.  Carry the load and the donkey will follow." The man took this advice, and lo and behold it worked!  Once the man took the burden on himself the donkey was inspired to carry the burden as well.  

This is the lesson Jesus provides in washing our feet.  "As I have done, so also you must do." Jesus takes the initiative in carrying the burden, in teaching us to live in service to others.  We are now inspired and have a pattern to follow for our lives, even to the point of death.  

One, all, Will Betray Me

Gospel: Matthew 26: 14-25

"One of you will betray me." At these words all the disciples tremble in fear and they all say - "Surely it is not I, Lord."  Why do they all fear this statement of Jesus? Why do they think this statement all applies to them? All of these disciples who have argued over which is greatest among them and swearing to die for the Lord now all cower at this statement.

We are all betrayers of the Lord, even they in their own way were as well.  While we have not exchanged money to hand Jesus over to death we have all in many ways betrayed the Lord in the person of our neighbor and other human beings.  By our disdain for others, our neglect, abandonment, denial, and indifference we have betrayed the Lord time and again to a cruel torture and death in so many different ways.  

Holy Week is our annual realization that there are no "faithful" or "loyal" Christians.  There are only Judases and Peters, only disciples stung by the statement of Jesus: "One of you will betray me", for at our deepest core we realize that this sentence does indeed apply to us, that we have much to repent of, much to change in our lives.  But in this election week let us choose to run off and weep with Peter rather than hang ourselves with Judas.   

Betrayal and Denial

Gospel: John 13: 21-33, 36-38

"One of you will betray me."  Nay, all of us will betray you, Lord.  "Peter, this very night you will deny me three times." - Aye, and all the rest of us will do so as well.  This election week is the time for hard examination for those who profess to be disciples of the Lord Jesus.  Like Peter and the other disciples we make our bravado professions of faith in Jesus, but what will our actions truly reveal?

Consider: we will make claims to care for the poor and marginalized, but instead give priority to purchasing padded pews for the nave.  We pledge solidarity with immigrants and refugees, but offer no assistance or lodging as they seek a permanent home.  We declare to value both mother and unborn child but oppose Medicaid expansion that would help both.  

This election week we recall that Jesus is present in our neighbor in need.  Will our actions correspond to our professions of faith in them, or will they be acts of betrayal, denial, and abandonment? So few stood by Jesus to the end during the first Holy Week.  So few support the neighbor in need.  Election week is upon us: will we be like the women at the cross, or the men hiding in the upper room?