Let Me Explain

Did you ever have someone question your decision in such a way that he made you look foolish in front of your friends?

In today's Gospel reading, John injects himself into the narrative to explain why Judas would embarrass Jesus in front of his dearest friends, Lazarus, Martha and Mary.

"Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?"  (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) - John 11:5-6

It is such a brief interjection that we can blow right past it without thinking about it, focusing instead on the action of Mary pouring perfume on Jesus.

We already know that Judas will be the one who betrays Jesus, so having an explanation of motive completes the picture and lets us move on without dwelling on it.  Judas is a thief.

Really?

Of all the vignettes and encounters John shares with us, nowhere do we find one that shows Judas stealing from the purse, nor do we have him being accused of it by Jesus or one of the disciples.  Up until the moment of betrayal, no one even suggests that something is amiss with him, even when he gets up to leave the table and Jesus tells him to do what he must.

Don't you find that strange?

I find myself thinking about these things, not as a way of challenging the validity of the Gospel, but to seek deeper understanding of these average men and women who risked their lives to follow Jesus, who by now was being sought by the leaders and righteous who saw him as a threat to their faith and power.

We know they were saying things about him that weren't true to rally the people against him, but isn't that what John is doing as well, targeting Judas?

Is it possible we would get the wrong impression of what was going on with Mary and Jesus without John's comment about Judas?

He said this not because he cared about the poor...

Maybe that is the clue.  If we think Judas is questioning the purchase of expensive perfume, and that he cares about the poor, the way Jesus taught, how would that make Jesus and Mary look?

Without discrediting Judas, Jesus may be perceived as a hypocrite by those who heard the story, so we need a simple statement to dispel that thought.

I have encountered many who have given a sideways glance or made an expression or sound to give people the impression that what was being said wasn't the whole truth.  I admit I have even used this tactic myself consciously and subconsciously.

It is so easy to do, that we must try to catch ourselves to prevent our commentary from showing when we retell a story.  Let me explain, John tells us, it is not Jesus who is bad here, but Judas, the thief.

So, here is an exercise for all of us today.  Listen carefully for the off-handed remarks, suggestions and glances that tell us something deeper, or different from what is being said.  And when we hear or see one, challenge the person to explain.  What do you think will happen?

But don't gloat if you catch someone doing this, or you may find yourself doing exactly the same in return.

More to come...



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