A look at the gaps in the lectionary.
This week: the gap between Easter 4B and 5B
The text: John 10:19-14:31
As we recognized the context of our gospel last week as being an oasis in the midst of threats of violence, we necessarily correct the theoretical and spiritually-minded response we often use when reading John.
Four chapters there, from eight through eleven, display a picture of Jesus’s love, commitment, and hope in the midst of human failure and desire for violence to protect the status quo. This is the story before Jesus enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
We now jump back into the Last Supper. A move that always feels kind of weird during Easter. But in John’s gospel, it feels far more comforting and encouraging than the situation often allows.
In chapter 13, Jesus washes the feet of his disciples. He foretells his betrayal—but then tells them to love everyone. Then telling them of Peter’s denial; as if to remind us that hating a Judas and forgiving a Peter is not the ideal example of love.
Then he talks about the way of God and the promised coming of the Holy Spirit.
This is a bold promise.
It is not just a collection of comforting ones. It is a singular bold promise about the nature of God, Jesus, and everything. A promise of being co-creators of God’s glorious dream for the cosmos.
And why we’re going to struggle with it.
It could be that Jesus needs a few chapters to get through it all here, before they finally eat and the Passion can commence. But it could also be that this reflects our own challenge with the bold promise that the Dream of God actually does involve us.
It isn’t just for us. And definitely not only when we die.
Jesus is the Way and the Spirit is present with us, guiding, coaxing, inspiring us.
To not settle for injustice, disunity, and broken creation, but to choose, instead, to love.