Night
A homily for Wednesday of
Holy Week
“It was
night.” “Now is the son of Man
glorified.”
It was night
when Judas left to betray Jesus. The
lure of the thirty pieces of silver calling him from table.
It was night
when Peter denied Jesus, the warmth of a fire the only comfort until cock-crow.
It was night
when Jesus was born, the light of the world come into darkness. But people loved darkness rather than light.
It was night
when Jesus died – the sky blackened with cloud, the creation mourning the death
of the Son.
It was night
when the soldiers came, breaking into the house, seizing the women, killing the
men. Casualties of the darkness of the
brutal war in Syria.
It was night
when the young woman lay in the doorway.
A failed relationship, benefits that won’t be received until next week,
no council housing available. A doorway,
a sleeping bag and a box are shelter and warmth for now.
It was night
when they kissed and checked into a hotel.
Wives, husbands, children pushed into the dark recesses of the
mind. Betrayal that doesn’t feel like it
until the morning after.
It is night
where we are. The half-truths we tell
ourselves and others. The parts of life
we like to hide. Complicities,
betrayals, wounds to ourselves, damage to others, guilt and despair, insecurity
and fear. There is night in us.
It was night
for Judas. It was night for Peter. It is night in our world. There is night in us.
It was night
when Jesus, the light of the world, announces “Now the Son of Man has been
glorified”.
In the
morning Peter sits with Jesus on the beach.
Do you love me, asks Jesus, three times.
Peter, hurt but forgiven, is given the space to repair his love.
In the
morning Judas refuses the light, and flees for the dark of despair. He throws down the money, shouts at the
priests, flings down his life in defiance.
In the
morning, Jesus the light of the world, is brought to new life. Not to cancel out the cross, but to show that
the cross is the place where light and hope and God were hung. The light of the world is offered still,
light in the darkness, light in the daytime, light that brings judgement, light
that brings hope, light that brings forgiveness.
In the
morning of our world there is judgement.
Those who kill and abuse and defraud are dragged into the light of
justice, and must face what they have done.
In the
morning of our world there is hope, hope for rebuilding, hope for shelter and
care, hope for fullness of life.
In the
morning of our world there is forgiveness.
Always hard won, but creating possibilities for love and life.
Morning in
our world comes at different times for different people. No gradual breaking of dawn from east to
west, but a haphazard lottery of place and time. But morning comes.
Morning comes
when there is justice for the hurt and the oppressed.
Morning comes
when there is shelter for the homeless, food for the hungry.
Morning comes
when the truth is spoken, however uncomfortable that is.
Morning comes
when the path of faithfulness is chosen over an attractive betrayal.
Morning comes
when pain and hurt are brought for forgiveness and for healing.
Peter comes
to the light, embracing it and facing his denial.
Judas refuses
the light, and hides from it in despair.
Jesus is the
light, and remains light in the darkest moment of the cross.
We long for
the morning. But in us there is night.
We bring our
night to the altar, and hold and taste the bread given to the betrayer.
The light of
the world is in us, even in our night. The light of the world is with us even in our
betrayals.
Let us come
to the light, seeking him even in our darkness.
Let us come
to the light, unmasking our painful hidden truths.
Let us come
to the light, offering our wounds for healing.
Let us come
to the light, opening ourselves to others and to God.
Let us come
to the light, where there is hope, forgiveness, life.
“It was
night.” “Now is the Son of Man
glorified.”
Amen.
Given at
Derby Cathedral. 16.4.14.
Comments