April 20, 2016
A Word for the Unraveled Community

Scripture Readings for this Week: Acts 11:1-18; Psalm 148;
Revelation 21:1-6; and John 13:31-35

When we have felt enough and withstood all the shock and aftershocks from the kaleidoscopic shuffling and shifting and the torn patterns of our days, we might wonder about where we fall in the design of life. We are tucked in and yanked out, included and excluded, recognized and ignored, placed and replaced, confident and unstable, now here, then there. How do we hold together through all our physical and emotional dislocations?
Jesus had been with the disciples so completely, so intimately, so dependably. And Judas too had been with them, trusted, wanted, and respected. They were tight. Today on the streets, they might call one another “bro,” or in a countryside village, “neighbor.” Around the table that last night together, how did they think of themselves? As brothers, friends, compatriots, disciples?
Those twelve had become community with Jesus, brought together from such unlikely circumstances and places. But suddenly the community began to unravel. Judas left the Passover. Jesus said, “Where I am going, you cannot come” (John 13:33). Their communion broke apart through shame and death, scheme and fear, anger, confusion, and disillusionment. Yet into that chaos Jesus tells his disciples that God is glorified and commands them to love one another.
This gospel scene speaks the answer to our losses and dislocations in three words: “love one another.” One single commandment transcends all the volumes of commandments. “Love one another” is the one and only commandment that will ever and always restore, revive, renew, regain, rebirth, and receive community when and where it has frayed or shattered.
In this reality we will continue to discover who we are and where we belong in all the tearing and kaleidoscopic shifting and shuffling of our days, and everyone will know, says Jesus, “that you are my disciples” (v. 35).
 
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