The Rev. Canon Leonard L. Hamlin, Sr.

John 13:21-32

At supper with his friends, Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. One of his disciples– the one whom Jesus loved– was reclining next to him; Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival”; or, that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.”

Throughout these days, time and time again I have asked myself “Will anything be different on the other side of this?” We are all looking at, contemplating and seeking methods to face the challenges of eradicating the coronavirus and the effects that are becoming more vivid each and every day. This is a time and a season that has shifted our habits. Reading the Gospel of John challenges us to consider our actions, our habits, but most of all our hearts. Our habits and our actions are often subject to the conditions and the stimuluses that impact our lives and if we are not careful, selfish actions. Our hearts however, should be grounded in truths that lead us to selfless actions. The disciples had walked with Jesus, heard his teachings, attended religious services and even witnessed miracles. The disciples gathered with Jesus and shared the Passover meal. And as the room was filled with talk of betrayal, a great question called for everyone’s attention as John asked, “Who is it?” One disciple saw an opportunity to satisfy his selfish anxieties and desires when Jesus had been preparing their hearts for the selfless serving of others. Today, what does betrayal to his teachings look like when we see the hoarding and cleaning of shelves, communities disproportionately affected because of economic, environmental, political and racial factors? When we are able to reach a point of looking back, will anything be different because of what we have been through? Will the change be limited to our habits or will change truly be in our hearts? I am praying that the change begins with me and together, we will see a different world on the other side of this moment.

Faithfully,
Leonard+

Change me, oh God. Make me more like You. Change me, oh God. Wash me through and through. Create in me a clean heart, So that I may worship You.

“Change Me” by Tamela Mann