Readings for the Day:
Sermon:
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I’ve had people come to me with questions and concerns about our role in saying that over the years. Some people are shocked or frightened to take up such a role. I’ve known a few to even refuse to say those words, at least at first. But it’s important that we take on the role of the crowd. It reminds us that we are no better. It reminds us that we too have let Jesus down.
It’s a reminder that we, like Judas even, sometimes play the role of traitor to Jesus. Particularly when we read passages like our Gospel reading for tonight, it is important to remember that.
Yes, what Judas did was a bad thing. Yes, as Scripture points out to us clearly, Judas, in that moment, is an agent of the evil one. But we have all done bad things, and all sin separates us from God. We have all failed our Lord Jesus. We are all guilty of being traitors.
Even Peter, in fact, was guilty of being a traitor. As we read this Sunday, Peter denied Jesus not once, but three times. Even Peter, first to speak up for Jesus, member of the “inner circle” of Disciples, Apostle and leader of the early church, and hailed as the first Bishop of Rome, in spite of being from Capernaum in Galilee, fell short, quite a few times in fact.
Judas’ and Peter’s stories end very differently, though. Judas cannot accept his sin and kills himself (in this time, I feel it is extra important to remind you that if you, or anyone you love, have any suicidal thoughts, please call 1-800-273-TALK for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline). Peter recognizes that he has done wrong, returns to Jesus and, at the end of the Gospel according to John, is reconciled with our Lord.
In this time of social distancing it is important to take true sabbath rest. That means taking the time we need, but often don’t take, to examine ourselves. Where do we fall short? Where have we sinned? Where are we sinning still?
In my time studying at Metagem Institute, we talked a great deal about Ignatius of Loyola and his spirituality as found best in his Spiritual Exercises. Those exercises begin with us examining our own sinful nature. It is a hard thing to do, but it is in part how Ignatius was able to begin his own turning to faith, and it is also how we take that step back to God. Turning back to God is the literal meaning of repent, and it is the goal and focus of this season of Lent.
Examining our sin can help us begin to see that we often are that crowd that chants “Crucify Him!” It helps us see that we are, often times, like Judas. But doing so doesn’t mean we wallow in our sins. It means we turn and repent like Peter. If we can take this time in isolation to do that, then we can let God help us change who we are and what we do. It will mean that we no longer have to be part of crowd, but that instead we can be brought back in to be with Jesus.