The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the role of betrayal in our relationship with God and others.
Betrayal in relationships
The reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah describes the Servant’s Mission to the people of the world.
* [49:1–7] The second of the four “servant of the Lord” oracles (cf. note on 42:1–4).
* [49:1] Gave me my name: designated me for a special task or mission (cf. Jer 1:5).
* [49:3] Israel: the servant is identified with the people of Israel as their ideal representative; however, vv. 5–6 seem to distinguish the servant from Israel.
* [49:6] The servant’s vocation extends beyond the restoration of Israel in order to bring the knowledge of Israel’s God to the rest of the earth; cf. Lk 2:32.1
Psalm 71 is a prayer for lifelong protection and help.
* [Psalm 71] A lament of an old person (Ps 71:9, 18) whose afflictions are interpreted by enemies as a divine judgment (Ps 71:11). The first part of the Psalm pleads for help (Ps 71:1–4) on the basis of a hope learned from a lifetime’s experience of God; the second part describes the menace (Ps 71:9–13) yet remains buoyant (Ps 71:14–16); the third develops the theme of hope and praise.2
In the Gospel of John, Jesus foretells His betrayal and Peter’s denial.
* [13:31–38] Introduction: departure and return. Terms of coming and going predominate. These verses form an introduction to the last discourse of Jesus, which extends through Jn 14–17. In it John has collected Jesus’ words to his own (Jn 13:1). There are indications that several speeches have been fused together, e.g., in Jn 14:31 and Jn 17:1.3
Tom Lenz comments that Judas plays an obvious and important role in the Passion story. But, we may not want to see him as only the guy who betrayed Jesus and handed him over to be killed. He may also be teaching us an important lesson about ourselves.
The gospel today tells the story of two disciples who betray Jesus, but each in their own way and each resulting in a much different ending. Judas’ betrayal ends with him taking his own life. Peter’s, however, ends with him realizing his actions, but moving on with even greater conviction than before. Maybe an important message from today’s story is about recognizing and accepting our fears, wrong-doings, and betrayals and at the same time choosing not to give up on our path forward. Judas succumbed to his fears and the social pressures of the situation that surrounded him which caused him to make a bad decision (admittedly a really bad decision). But, maybe worse still was his decision to give up on himself and his path forward in faith with God. I have read this gospel story many times. But, today the message I heard was, “Don’t give up on your journey because God will always be there to love you, forgive you, and encourage you to continue your path forward in faith.”4
Don Schwager quotes “Fight sin and put up with trials,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Your first task is to be dissatisfied with yourself, fight sin, and transform yourself into something better. Your second task is to put up with the trials and temptations of this world that will be brought on by the change in your life and to persevere to the very end in the midst of these things." (excerpt from Commentary on Psalm 59,5)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Isaiah 49:1-6 comments that today’s passage describes how the Servant of the Lord will draw people from every nation to the God of Israel. With the blessing of hindsight, we can see how Jesus fulfilled this role and commissioned his disciples to carry on this mission.
As you attend the liturgies of Holy Week, look around and see that fulfillment in the faces of your fellow parishioners. Think about the Church in other countries as well, and rejoice that God has brought so many diverse peoples into one family. Rejoice that the apostles proclaimed the gospel to people so different from themselves. And rejoice that you are part of this work! Extend your hand in friendship to someone new this week, and shine your light to the nations. “Lord, help me to reach out so that people will know you.”6
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the universalism that developed at the time of the Exile in Babylon as expressed in the passage from Deutero-Isaiah. Jesus identifies His betrayer as part of the plan of God. Friar Jude reminds us that the Glory of God in John’s Gospel is the Love of Jesus on the Cross.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, presents Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis who reflects on the universal wisdom that proclaims the mutuality of love.
For some folks, talk about love sounds weak, but from my point of view love is the strongest force on the planet. I learned my favorite definition of love from one of my seminary professors, the late Dr. James E. Loder [1931–2001]. He defined love as a “non-possessive delight in the particularity of the other.” All these years later, I am still so moved by this sentiment. Non-possessive delight sounds like devotion to me. Rather than trying to change, manipulate, or devour the object of our affection, fierce love delights in the particularities of who they are. So, when you love yourself, you take delight in the unique particularities that add up to you, without judgment. 7
The universal Love of God for all people invites us to transition beyond our failures and betrayal to respond to the promptings of the Spirit to show love in our actions.
References
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