May 2nd ,2010 • The Season of Easter • Alleluia!
After Judas Left
Jesus tells his disciples in today’s gospel, “Love one another, as I have loved you.”
But before we get to that part, the gospel starts with these simple words...
“When Judas had left them....” There are two ways (at least) to look at that phrase:
(a) John’s gospel is just telling us the order of things as they happened
(b) There is a context to Jesus’s commandment to love one another.
I’ve really been thinking about the “context” point of view...Judas didn’t
leave the last supper to get groceries or to put coins in the meter where
his donkey was parked. He left to betray Christ and Jesus knows it. He
also knows that pretty soon all of the apostles will know of this -- and
they’ll also deny him and run away from him, leaving him to be brutally
killed.
Can you imagine being in that situation? What would you say to your
closest friends “after Judas left?” I imagine that Jesus sensed that
whatever he said at that moment would be remembered in retrospect and
whatever he said needed to be the ultimate way to strengthen these
friends of his.
So in the midst of his fear, his disappointment and the realization that he
will be leaving them, etc. he gives them this ultimate commandment to
love. How many times would the apostles go back to that moment when
they needed to know what to do after he was gone?
I think of this gospel in the context of Father John leaving too. (I need
to be clear here -- I’m comparing Father John’s leaving to Jesus’ leaving
not Judas’s leaving!!!) Right now we’re all asking ourselves the
question, “What will we do when he’s gone?” And the answer comes
from Jesus: we’ll love one another.
But first, as a sign of love for Father John, we’ll gather for a
Eucharistic celebration on Sunday, June 13th at the 11:30 mass,
followed by a reception in Code Auditorium. All invited.
After he leaves to be the pastor of St. James in Seaford, we’re left with
the legacy of his love for us, and Jesus’ commandment to love one
another.
