Homily on the Passion, Part III

Homily on Luke 22:46-62

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

As we noted last week, people loved by God, we don't get very far by studying the behavior of the disciples during the events of our Lord's Passion. Judas' sad betrayal, leading the mob to Jesus and identifying him for them with a kiss; the disciples with the unsheathed sword, wacking off the ear of the high priest's servant (John lets us know that was Peter and that the servant's name was Malchus); or Peter's denial that he knew Jesus or was one of his disciples or had the first clue what they were talking about. Selling out the Lord, hurting others in our zeal to defend the Lord, and then wimping out when we could open our mouths and confess...I dare say we know something of all of these and the shame that attends them. 

But what is captivating is Jesus' reaction to betrayal and violence and denial. To Judas, one last word of grace: "Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" How often had Jesus embraced him, welcomed and loved him? And even at the Supper had fed him with his own holy body and blood and told him it was for him and for the forgiveness of sin, his sin too. But he turned away in heart from it all and then feared it was lost forever. Yet even as he went to embrace the Lord and kiss him to hand him over to the mob, Jesus is still reaching for him. 

And when Peter's sword swings and severs the ear of the high priest, Jesus intervenes: "No more of this!" He not only stops the violence that would seek to defend Him, to prevent Him drinking the cup that His Father had given Him to drink, but He even here does good to one of those who came to arrest him. He heals the servant's ear. Does His love know any bounds? He continues doing good to those who came out to do Him nothing but evil. And even his challenge to the officers and elders: "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs?" What was He doing but inviting them to consider the madness of what they were doing in their hour and in the power of darkness? 

And after they have seized him and taken him into the high priest's house, Peter sneaking in and being caught, being afraid, and denying three times before the rooster crows, just as Jesus had told him it would be. But when it happens, only Luke records this, Jesus turns and looks at Peter. In our sinfulness, I fear we write on our Lord's face the wrong look. This was no: "See, I told you so." Jesus never had to play that game. He never got a high from showing others just how right he was the way we do. No, people loved by God, this was a look of love. It was a look that conveyed to Peter: "Man, you may deny that you know me, but I still love you and I do this for you, and remember that I have promised that I have prayed for you and that when you turn again, strengthen your brothers. You will turn again, Peter." 

It's that look of tender love that smashes the Rock-Man to bits and and leaves him running away and crying his heart out for his own shame in the face of such enduring love.

Such is the gaze, people loved by God, that your Jesus would turn on you this day too. He knows full well, better than you ever will, the countless betrayals and denials and all the harm you have wrought on others when you sought to defend Him. He knows it. For it all, He is going to the Tree for love of His Father and, yes, for love of you. He looks upon you in your nakedness, in your shame, in the mess of your life and when you see His gaze, it is not reproach. It is not "I told you you were a bunch of sinners and that you didn't know the half of your own evil" but it is His "how how much I love you and I will never let anything in heaven or on earth separate you from my love. You are mine."

During Lent and always when we remember our shame, it is good for Jesus to gaze upon us, that we might weep our bitter tears with Peter and all penitents. Repentance that is of such a depth is wholly the gift of His love, of knowing that we have betrayed and denied the One who loved us so deeply and still does. God grant us all such tears, but above all, God grant us all to see the face of Christ gazing upon us not in anger, disgust, rejection, or hatred, but from an abyss of love so fathomless that it swallows up all sin and shame. 

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen