The Lent Podcast series
Week 7, Wednesday in Holy Week of Lent
Writing and read by Joost Röselaars, Mpho Tutu van Furth, Rachelle van Andel
The University of Stellenbosch Choir sings “Indodana kaNkulunkulu” The Son of God.
You have taken the Son of God who dwelt among us. They crucified him.
The Collect
Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his body to be whipped and his face
to be spit upon: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time,
confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ your Son our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and
ever. Amen.
The Gospel
John 13:21-32
At supper with his friends, Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I
tell you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain
of whom he was speaking. One of his disciples– the one whom Jesus loved– was
reclining next to him; Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of
whom he was speaking. So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord,
who is it?” 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. After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered
into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” Now no one at
the table knew why he said this to him. 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. So, after receiving the piece of bread, he
immediately went out. And it was night.
When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and
God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glo-
rify him in himself and will glorify him at once.”
Reflection
Perhaps what is most difficult about Jesus teaching is that it is so simple. It is so
simple, so attainable, so possible for each and all of us. Most of us will apply our
minds, our strength, and superhuman effort to accomplish complicated tasks. The
simple things deceive us by their very simplicity. Here, in the description of Jesus’
last supper with his disciples we experience Jesus embodied love. Knowing that it
is Judas who will betray him Jesus doesn’t berate Judas. Instead, Jesus feeds him.
Knowing where Judas has gone Jesus doesn’t denigrate him to the disciples who
remain, instead he continues to teach them the way of love to equip then for the
days ahead. Instinct tells us to lash out when we are hurt. Instinct tells us to rage
when we are betrayed. Instinct tells us to dish out only as much kindness as is de-
served. What does love tell us? What does Jesus tell us? It is simple to do the most loving thing. It is simple but oh so hard.
This week what action can I take to crucify my instincts so that love can be glorified?
Prayer
May God bless you and keep you
May God’s face shine upon you
May God be gracious to you
And give you peace
Amen.
gepubliceerd op 4 april 2023