External Supporters, Internal Betrayers
St Mark’s Gospel juxtapositions the support of unknown persons and the betrayal of those close to Jesus. As part of the preparation for Jesus entry into Jerusalem, he (Jesus) sends his disciples into the village to fetch him a colt and it is easily loaned. And again to have the passover meal, he sends disciples into the city to follow a man to an unknown owner of a house and, without question, he shows them to an upper room, furnished and ready.
Who were these unknown supporters? Obviously his close disciples did not know them. Yet they were ready and prepared to support with their gifts. Reading of these incidents got me reflecting on the hidden external supporters of Jesus. Some Biblical historians suggest that these persons may have belonged to the Essenes, a secretive sect of Judaism. Whoever they were, they were supporters of Jesus.
Isn’t it the same in church? So often we are quick to exclude persons who we do not see regularly in church. We look at them as gentiles, heathens. They do not come to church, they do not belong. This Gospel narrative cautions us to be not so quick to condemn. I remember someone telling me in a Synod session ‘we did not leave the church, is the church who left we.’
It is my experience, that persons who I do not see in church are the most avid supporters of my ministry. They are the persons who lend me their donkey, they are the persons who show me to an upper room, furnished and ready. I thank God for these ‘unknown’ supporters.
Contrast this to Jesus close disciples, his apostles. Judas Iscariot, someone who walked with Jesus and belonged to his inner circle, who dipped his bread in the same dish with Jesus, at the Passover meal, betrayed him. Peter, his right hand man, denies him, and swears an oath ‘I do not know this man’. One follower was so quick to beat a hasty retreat that he ran off naked.
Jesus in Matthew 7: 22 says - ‘Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness’.
This all points to a profound lesson in life. So often we do not know who supports and who betrays - who stays the course and who deserts. Our parish priest suggests we reflect on the fact that all the women stayed with Jesus to the foot of the cross, but the men ran away. When we embark on an enterprise, don’t be too hasty to exclude and don’t be too anxious to trust. Matthew 7: 15 ‘By their fuits you will know them’.
Abba, through our Lord Jesus Christ, please give us the grace, courage and patience to embrace all, to not exclude persons, for we do not know who are our hidden supporters in the mission of Building the Kingdom of God on earth.