ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING
March 19, 2022
I was really struck two days ago by some words from Barbara Brown Taylor, one of the great Christian preachers and authors. She wrote, “Whatever Judas’s degree of guilt and whatever his motive, it is extremely important to note that Jesus identifies his betrayer by feeding him… dipping a morsel into his own cup and giving it to Judas, whose feet he has just washed. Knowing who Judas is and what he is about to do, Jesus does not throw him out. He bathes him and feeds him, which means that Judas is never – never – excluded from the circle of friends. He is included until he excludes himself.” How many people did everything in their power to not exclude themselves, yet were excluded by the very Body called forth to represent the life of Jesus. Being guilty or even feeling guilty, alongside a whole host of other things, are not deal breakers when it comes to the love of Jesus. Keep that in mind when someone is attempting to show you the exit. Even if the individual is successful, you’ll find Jesus kneeling on the other side of the exit preparing to welcome you by washing your feet and serving you a meal.
I love you, Living Jesus, for who you are and all you continue to do in pushing back against powers and principalities hell-bent on excluding and rejecting whoever they can. Amen.
