Judas, Peter and me
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| St. James Episcopal Church, Florence Italy |
Have you had a similar conversation in your house? Have your children ever asked you to choose? Surely I'm not the only parent who has experienced this inquisition by a youngster.
Maybe we search our whole lives to be the 'chosen one', the child loved most in the family. We all desire that special spot.
With Jesus, was it Mary he loved the most? Was it Peter? Or was it Judas?
This Easter we attended St. James Episcopal Church in Florence, Italy. We were enthralled by the space and then by the people who attended. Multiple countries were represented: Switzerland, Nigeria, England, South Africa, Italy and the US. During worship we heard behind us the most amazing voice loudly singing, Alleluia, Alleluia. This young man sang in a high tenor with abandon. Beautiful. During preparation for Holy Communion, we were invited to speak the Lord's prayer in our own language to be able to really speak the words with passion. All these unique people gathered together in a small church deep within the city of Florence seeking the Savior. We each sat there amazed that this King of Easter would call each of us His chosen child. That's just our human condition...we continue to seek His love, we continue to seek His favor.
In John 20, Mary Magdalene did the same type of searching.
But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher)."Mary heard His voice speak her name. After He spoke he name, she knew.
Peter tried and tried to find Jesus on so many occasions. He tried in his own power and intellect but it was finally the voice, "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. Matthew 16:18. Peter heard His voice and knew.
Judas was also searching for the voice of Jesus. In all his doubt and bad choices, I believe Judas also sought the voice of Jesus. That voice that just KNOWS you.
And on one of His last days on earth, as Jesus is approached in the garden of Gethsemane by those who will do him harm, his former disciple stands there to betray Him. The God of Easter looks at Judas and speaks. And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.”Matthew 26:50. In that moment, Judas knew too.
Who is this God that would seeing the darkest part in Judas and inside me and still call us, Friend. Can we understand a God who loves Judas as much as he loves Mary, Peter, me and you. He loves our good, our evil, our sadness, our lack of faith, He just loves.
The pastor in the Florence church said, embrace your own darkness and your own light, He loves every part of you. THAT is a Savior. That is Easter.
God spoke creation into being. He speaks to Mary and Peter in love. He speaks to Judas in love. He speaks to us in love. And He says today...you are very, very good!(Genesis 1) You are my favorite one.
