e-vo for Holy Week

Dearest e-votees-

I hope and pray that this finds you well as we draw closer to the passion of our Lord Jesus. I hope you will do whatever is required to draw near to the story that has so much to do with our story.

The appointed epistle lesson for this Wednesday of Holy Week says this:

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.

Hebrews 12:1-3, NRSV

Part of laying aside the weights and the sin, part of running with perseverance, part of considering him who endured such hostility from sinners is gathering with the community around Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil and Easter. May your worship and your gathering with community be blessed. Take your place among the great cloud of witnesses.

Peace,
Karl

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21 After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, "Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me." 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. 23 One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?" 26 Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. 27 After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "Do quickly what you are going to do." 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, "Buy what we need for the festival"; or, that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night. 31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.

John 13:21-32, NRSV

Jesus is staring death in the face. His death was designed to be lingering and horrific so others would see what happens when you cross the Romans—they cross you. The disciples of Jesus are not tracking so very clearly. They are all sharing a Passover meal. As the story about the lamb being slaughtered so that the blood smeared might offer salvation to those whom it covers was told it surely was not lost on Jesus. As the story of the deliverance from the hand of Pharaoh was recounted Jesus surely knew that another deliverance was underway. Jesus was making reference to this way back in the 3rd chapter of John when he talked about the Son of Man being lifted up just as the serpent was in the desert. Jesus is painfully aware of what is going on.

It is at this Passover meal that Jesus layers on another level of remembrance and promise with Holy Communion. He takes some of the unleavened bread of the Seder meal and says “This is my body, given for you.” He takes one of the four glasses of wine from the Seder meal and says “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, given and shed for you.” “Do this in remembrance of me” says Jesus. And so we do.

One thing that we ought to remember too— Judas was present at the meal. In our gospel text above Jesus identifies Judas as the one who will betray him. In Luke 22:13-23 it is even more clear that Judas partook of the first communion before he left the table to betray Jesus. Peter was present at the table too—this Peter who would so quickly deny Jesus even after promising to follow him through prison and death. All who were at the table found ways to hide and cower and flee and lull off to sleep during Jesus’ time of great need.

It is so troubling to many, including me, when restrictions are so fiercely erected around the communion table. Altar rails become chainlink fences with razor wire keeping out those we deem unworthy or unfaithful or not believing enough. To be sure there are better ways to partake of communion and those conversations are good to be had speaking the truth in love—but, bottom line, I don’t think we should be less inclusive than Jesus when we partake of the holy meal.

Jesus fed Judas and Peter and would feed us too—who is less deserving than the three of us? Jesus washed the feet of Judas and Peter and would wash our feet too—who is less deserving than the three of us?


Jesus in so many ways we stray and falter and take our rightful place among the unreliable and unworthy disciples. Yet you feed them and you clean them. You feed us in your holy supper. You wash us in baptism. Help us never scorn people away from your precious means of grace. Amen.