In the history of humankind, betrayal by a disciple led to a New Beginning and Assurance of Eternal life

The Bread which we break...Is it not a "New Order" to Love each other

Rev. Bartholomew Segan Palk, CSI Coimbatore Diocese

Maundy Thursday, 9^th April 2020.

The word Maundy is derived from a Latin word ‘Mandatum’ which means command or order. These words were spoken by Jesus to his disciples after washing their feet at the Last Supper, “A New Commandment I give unto you, that Ye love One Another” (John 13).

In a way it is Unique and New, Bible already says in the Book of Leviticus 19, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ but the New Commandment that Jesus emphasis here is God’s way of Loving, through human mind it is Impossible but with Jesus it is Possible.

Luther says, “Each betrayal begins with Trust”

In the history of humankind, betrayal by a disciple led to a New Beginning and Assurance of Eternal life.

• Betrayal leads to Brokenness
• Brokenness leads to A New Beginning
• A New Beginning leads to Being in Unity

 Betrayal leads to brokenness.

Betrayal comes not from an Unknown soul it comes from a Known soul. The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me – Jesus Christ (Matthew 26). Judas Iscariot drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22). The purest form of love is portrayed as an act of betrayal by a disciple.

Because we betrayed to take care of Nature, it has led us to the state of brokenness and the whole World is on lockdown now.

Brokenness leads to A New Beginning

While they were eating, Jesus took the bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”

The brokenness of Jesus is expressed when, He prayed to God at Gethsemane. It is the “Greatest Prayer in the World”. The one who was with God in the Creation is literally crying out with agony because of the betrayal by his own image (We) saying (Jesus), “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” – (Genesis1, John 1, Luke 22). Yet we could see how Jesus was submissive to His Father, towards His mission. (Mark 14)

To give us a new beginning Father God sacrificed His own Son, whereas we failed to give up our ego, pride and greed. It is the right time to give up on our selfish behaviour, greedy attitude and relentless sin against God and start life with “A NEW BEGINNING”.

Betrayal and brokenness was healed by Jesus Christ and He gave us a "New Beginning" to begin life of togetherness.

A New Beginning leads to Being in Unity

The recent catastrophe teaches us a great lesson that, we have failed to live a holistic life, and as human beings, we failed to nurture and care for our fellow creatures. This pandemic helps us to understand how we have exploited and destroyed the environment instead of living in coexistence.

The book of Romans clearly says that the Whole Creation is waiting for Redemption. (Romans 8)

Jesus was betrayed and broken, like the creatures that couldn't speak of its own, like the Syrians who died because of Hunger as Refugees, like the Kashmiris who were in Lockdown for several months and like the people who were exiled for modernization.

Therefore, the Betrayal of Jesus Christ by Judas Iscariot and Brokenness of Jesus leads us to a New Beginning that brings us together to work in Unity for the Glory of God.