HOW DOES GOD DO THAT?

Jesus, on the night he was to be arrested and led to his death, spent his final hours with his disciples.  He washed their feet and shared what became a sacramental meal with them.  He did these most intimate things knowing that one of these men would betray him, leading those who would eventually kill him to the place where he was; also knowing that one of these men would deny even knowing him for fear of suffering the same fate as the one he truly loved.  Then, in the end Jesus stood before a crowd of people, who a week earlier were shouting praises and welcoming him into their city, but now were shouting “crucify him” with hatred and vengeance in their voices.  All of these people, from the two disciples to the crowd were people he only gave love to and who he was now laying down his life for.  How could he do that?

The light of his life shines on the pettiness of mine.  My disillusionments and disappointments with people and circumstances are inconsequential in the light of his love.

He was so intimate with Judas and Peter right up to the end.  He became naked before them performing the duties of a servant.  He tenderly dipped a morsel of bread in wine and fed the one who would immediately get up and leave to do his deed of death that would be initiated by a kiss in the garden.

Then as Jesus was walking stripped and beaten to his last accuser he looked right into the eyes of Peter just as the cock crowed at the third denial coming from Peter’s lips.  As for the crowd who turned on him he offered words of forgiveness as he was dying.  “Forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  But Peter and Judas did know what they had done.  Judas’s greed led him to his own destruction, as he hanged himself.  Peter’s fear led him to despondency and a sense of futility, as he went fishing which was what he was doing when Jesus first called him.

I know what it is like to walk in the shoes of both of these men; to be intimate with God and yet covet the things of the world; to be afraid and intimidated by others to the point of denying my faith in order to fit in with the crowd.  But Jesus remained true through it all, with me and with these men.   Jesus went and found Peter and over breakfast on a beach he performed a powerful act reconciliation that made a new man out of Peter.

In my heart I believe that on another plane, in another world that somehow happened with Judas, because that is how I believe God is.

In the end it is all about love, God’s love for the world and God’s love for each and every one of us.  It remains true in times and circumstances of forsakenness and betrayal on our part.   I don’t know how or why he does it, but I know I want to learn to do it too.

God, keep me from the wiles of the enemy; hunger for the things of the flesh, fear, and greed.  Keep my focus on all the glory that comes from you, and far from the glory that comes from man.  Amen.