Advent Lutheran Church

"Spy Wednesday (Holy Wednesday)"

Today was traditionally called Spy Wednesday.  The Gospel reading appointed for today precludes the actual betrayal of Judas, the spy.  The events leading up to Jesus on the cross are filed with intrigue, suspense and impending sense of disaster.  We have the story about the powers of good and evil, of light and darkness, of sin and salvation are all poised and ready to exhibit themselves at the place of the skull, Golgotha.

Jesus has a deep understanding of his role and then there is Judas- does he know what he is going to do

In a sense, it is always easy in Holy Week for us to talk about Judas’ betrayal. It is easy to see Satan at work in Judas’ life. In fact, it is easy for us to recognize the weaknesses of all of Jesus’ friends – failing to understand, falling asleep in Gethsemane, denying that one knows Jesus, and hiding away in terror as he is dying and then dead.

To live the life that Jesus intended for us is a perpetual struggle on a daily basis with good and evil. Sometimes when we are questioned about our transgressions, we, sometimes answer back. "It's not me Lord." But Jesus provides us with hope in the days to come. Rather than provide a discourse to the Twelve, Jesus calmly recalls the Hebrew Bible references to Him and even shares a piece of food with his disciples. We remember that the act of sharing a meal is intimate. Jesus is sharing the meal, not with strangers, but with intimate friends.

Often, we share food with those we love; we feign intimacy and even deceive one another. Jesus is not blind to the events that are revealing themselves as a result of Judas. Judas has turned on Jesus' friendship and love. We too in our lives are sometimes turned against Jesus' love through sinful and unloving activities. There is a real message here in Jesus' tranquility to the events that are coming. Faith in the love and the power of God.

As believers in the power of God's love and goodness, Spy Wednesday, should provide a period for reflection and introspective prayer. We need to examine our lives and look for the moments that we have falsely shared intimacy with our brothers and sisters in faith. More precisely, contemplate the of lack of true, "communio" in our lives. Jesus sees right through Judas' false piety and friendship. Jesus sees right through our own appearances when we falsely present ourselves as holy and faithful followers. Our frail human spirit reflects in our sinful acts.

Jesus recognizes this and offers new hope to Judas and us. The "morsel" which Jesus offers to Judas is an offering of friendship and love. There is a sense that Jesus recognizes Judas' confrontation with the powers of evil. Jesus does not admonish him or chastise him, but permits Judas to engage in this struggle and reveal the implications of his actions and unfaithfulness. There is hope for conversion. There is hope for grace. There is hope for Easter glory.

As preparations begin for the Church's celebration of our New Passover ,this Wednesday before the Triduum invites all of us to share in, "Holy Wednesday", not to pursue darkness and evil, but progress on the path of light and life. The Church in its wisdom sees this period of "Holy Wednesday" as a time for personal preparation.

But the other part of Holy Week is not only to confess our sins before God and the whole company of heaven and to throw ourselves upon God’s mercy in Jesus Christ but to return to the Lord our God. We have spent 40 days wandering through Lent intentionally contemplating our lives together within the Body of Christ.  We know the end of the story and are called to share the story with others.   We are part of that story, along with Peter, Thomas, James, John and the others- .

 In a few minutes we will commune together in the holy meal in which we will be strengthened for service and ready for the work which we are called to do - the table in which we come not as we ought but as we are able to celebrate that which Jesus offers to us in love and friendship- new life in the Paschal mystery.  Amen!