Koonung Heights Uniting Church
Call to Worship:
Come and see, Jesus is here,
come and see him with his friends,
come and see his love for them,
even the one who will betray him.
Come and see, God is love,
come and worship the one who loves unconditionally,
who gives all for love.
Come and see, God is here,
let us offer this time of worship.
Bible Reading: John 13:21-32 – Jesus Foretells His Betrayal
21 After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. 23 One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 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. 27 After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 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. 30 So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.
Reflection:
Everything about the night feels wrong –
the shadows seem longer, the air heavier, the table emptier.
The bread is dipped and passed
and Peter expects some bolt of lightening to crash down on the betrayers head,
they know who it is but nothing happens.
Why is he let to get on with it?
why does everyone just watch and no one do something?
why are people quiet?
Everything about this night is wrong –
no one stops Judas and the betrayer slips away into those longer shadows
with empty pockets and emptier hope.
Love has let him off with it,
love has let him do what he needs to do.
This is costly – there is no winner here.
Easter hasn’t happened and no one knows that it will
this is love slipping away in a world that needs it all the more.
Everything about this night is wrong –
everyone knew and no one did anything.
Love is lost in the longest shadows that curl round the betrayer
and the price of love.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus,
as we read of Judas’ pending betrayal,
we remember that betrayal is only possible
where friendship, love and trust were once present.
As the one who will betray you is revealed,
forgive us when we have let you down.
Forgive us
for not speaking out or standing up against the wrongs of this world,
or for when we are stunned into silence or statue-like inactivity.
Amen.
Blessing:
Jesus our Host and Friend,
giver of wine and bread, of love and self,
remember us as we remember you.
Be the story we live by and the song we sing,
this moment and always.
Amen.