 Holy Week Meditations from Bishop White Wednesday in Holy Week
Assist us mercifully with your help, O Lord God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts, whereby you have given us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word
Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 70; Hebrews 12:1-3; John 13:21-32
The supper is one of love and betrayal. The two always exist side by side. To deny that we can and do betray Jesus in some way denies that we are loved by Jesus or that Jesus has given himself over to us. We can only betray those who have given themselves over to us. We cannot hand over what has not first been handed to us. Authentic love always risks betrayal.
In giving Judas the bread Jesus has handed himself over to Judas. He has made himself "betrayable." I suspect the other disciples and we are relieved when the bread is dipped and given to Judas. He's the traitor. He's the one to blame. Judas makes it easier to not look at ourselves. The truth is we have all been given the bread of Jesus' life. We have all been washed in the water of his love.
Yes, tonight it is Judas. At the cross it will be Peter. A different time, different place, different circumstances it will be someone else. Judas is not so much the culprit as he is the mirror of our betrayals. It is not simply Jesus and his love that we betray. We betray ourselves. Every betrayal of Jesus betrays ourselves. We hand ourselves over to the night, betraying our life to death, our love to self-interest, and our hope to despair. We turn away from the light, the source of our life, and once again Jesus is troubled in spirit.
Of thy Mystic Supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of thy Mystery to thine enemies, neither will I give thee a kiss as did Judas; but like the thief will I confess thee: Remember me, O Lord, in thy Kingdom. - St. John Chrysostom
Hymn: To Mock Your Reign
 | | To mock your reign, O dearest Lord |
Let us pray. 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. |
