Breaking the Word

Tuesday of the Holy Week – 12^th April 2022 — Gospel: Jn 13,21-33.36-38

Remains in Control of His Hour

Prompted by Simon Peter’s nod, the beloved disciple asks Jesus who the betrayer is. Through the gesture of giving the morsel to Judas and his words, the contrast between the intimacy of the meal on the one hand and the betrayal by Judas on the other is brought into sharp relief. Even as he is offered a sign of friendship, intimacy, and fidelity, Judas chooses distance, betrayal and infidelity. Though Jesus knows who will betray him, he still reaches out in love and friendship. At the same time, Jesus is determined to face head on His Father’s will and so instructs Judas to act quickly. He alone understands the significance of the hour. The disciples remain ignorant and even misunderstand. That Judas leaves immediately is an indication that his commands are followed even as he is going to be betrayed. Despite knowing that he was setting into motion his own capture and painful death, Jesus was not going to interfere in the will of his Father. He held fast to the knowledge that God would be glorified in the end. Thus, Jesus remains in control of all the events of his “hour”.

5^th week in Lent, Saturday – 09^th April 2022 — Gospel: Jn 11,45-57

A Redemptive Death

Jesus’ act of giving life to Lazarus leads to his own life being taken away. The raising of Lazarus provoked a divided response among the people: many believed in Jesus, and others went to inform the religious authorities of Jerusalem what Jesus had done. At the meeting of the council, the authorities expressed fear that Jesus and his followers might provoke a revolt.  Caiaphas, the high priest, accuses the council of being unable to understand the gravity of the situation. Fearing that he would lose power and everything he had, Caiaphas designs a strategy. His words challenge his listeners to get rid of Jesus so that the nation will not suffer. However, being high priest, Caiaphas’ words of political convenience were understood by his listeners to be a message from God as well. John the evangelist seizes the high priest’s prophetic words to explain the fuller significance of Jesus’ death. Caiaphas, with his shrewdness and without knowingly, proclaimed that the death of Jesus would be redemptive both for the Jewish people and for all people. His death would not only save God’s people but would unify all who believe into a single-fold.