"Buy what we need for the feast,"
or to give something to the poor.
So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night.
Apocalyptic literature expects sharp divisions between good and evil to appear as the judgment day dawns. Issues will be clarified, sides will be taken, lines will be drawn and the battle will be engaged. The battle of That Day will be final; and the victory of justice, complete.
Many people suppose that these are apocalyptic times in America. A line has appeared between conservative and liberal, Republican and Democrat. States, cities and counties are marked blue or red. The critical issue is, of course, abortion. It seems that few can withstand that force that sweeps all other issues into the vortex of abortion. Are you for it or against it? Where do you stand?
Oddly, in the passage above, the disciples do not recognize Judas as one of the damned. Nor do they appear to know "the hour has come." They see Jesus whispering to Judas but they have no clue what he is saying. Only the Judge knows, and "those to whom he wishes to reveal it." (Matt 11:27)
The Evangelist does not say whether the Beloved Disciple answered Peter's signal. Perhaps the rush of events, even in that quiet chamber, forced their attention elsewhere. The narrative continues: "When he had left, Jesus said..."
Personally, I do not hope that the hour has come for America. Somehow, history muddles on. True, we have seen apocalyptic moments before, especially when we were swept into the Civil War, despite the vast majority who did not expect it. Millions of Americans were also caught off guard by the attack on Pearl Harbor and World War II. In my lifetime I did not expect to see the collapse of the Iron Curtain and International Communism.
But I do not think many are prepared to disband the Union for the sake of unborn children. A war on abortion would be no more effective than America's wars on poverty, drugs and terror. Neither the metaphor of war nor of constitutional amendment serves our purpose. We who oppose abortion will have to dig deeper into our spiritual resources to shine the light of truth on that issue.
During Holy Week we hear John's terse remark, "It was night." During this night when "no one can work (John 9:4)" the disciples will be in a stupor of incomprehension. Fortunately, God does work in the dark, and Jesus will continue his work on his last night.
Lent and Holy Week are given to us that we might be awake to see and witness the Might Works of God. In today's gospel the disciples argue about who will go with Him. Holy Week, with its harrowing events, invites us to follow him through his Passion and Death to Easter, when the Unexpected Unforeseen Unpredictable happens.
Perhaps we shall yet see the end of abortion.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.