Friend, why have you come?

And while he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now his betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, he is the one; seize him." Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him. But Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?" Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took him. And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he will provide me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?" In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize me. But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.

- Matthew 26:47-56

In yesterday's reading, Jesus was praying in Gethsemane. He asked his closest friends, Peter, and the brothers John and James Zebedee, to watch and pray with him. He prayed for strength, and to be on guard against temptation, while his friends failed, and slept. Today is the day of the betrayal.

And while he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now his betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, he is the one; seize him." Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him. But Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?" The gospel tells us once again that Judas was one of the twelve. This is an indication to us that he is one of Jesus' closest, most trusted circle. He has been with him from the beginning of his ministry. And yet, betrayal comes anyway. Among all the things Jesus is bearing this day is the betrayal by one of his own whom he loves. He still calls Judas "Friend." There is still time, even at this late moment, for Judas to repent and reconcile. Even as Jesus offered Judas the cup of the Eucharist at the Passover Supper, there has always been time for a change of heart, a change of mind. It has always been held out for Judas.

Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took him. And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword." My study bible notes here, "Jesus rebukes Peter (identified in John 18:10) severely for using the sword and then heals the servant of the high priest, showing at once his patient forbearance and his great power." It occurs to me that Jesus is talking about manipulation and force here, as opposed to seeking God's way first. Sometimes we can't control everything. We surrender in prayer, find a way that we are to go through the injustices of life. To live by the sword is to die by the sword in that sense: our faith is not in our own might, our own power to control everything, to force things our way. We pray for the strength (as in yesterday's reading) to follow God's way for us to walk through life and to respond to it when it offers us evil or harm or disappointment and betrayal. This is a strength that doesn't just react, but seeks the way that God asks us to carry ourselves through it.

"Or do you think that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he will provide me with more than twelve legions of angels?" My study bible notes, "A legion is 6,000 soldiers. Thus, the One who heals is the One who can also call for an army of 72,000 angels! But he does nothing of the kind. He goes to his Passion voluntarily." Jesus has the capacity to respond with force. But the Father has a way through this time that is unique, the particular way that Jesus is to walk through this evil, this force used against him, his Passion. And so, Jesus' great strength is reserved for following that path in his walk through trial and death.

"How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?" In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize me." I think it's important for us to note that Jesus does not go quietly here. He is surrendering because he has the strength to follow the Father's will - not because he is weak. And he is not done with his fight, either. He tells them to their faces the truth about their actions. Judgment and justice are still at work - but this is a spiritual battle that is going on, not just a worldly one.

"But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook him and fled. My study bible notes here: "By saying that the Scriptures must be fulfilled Jesus quenches the Apostles' anger, indicating what is happening is proper because it is in accordance with the Scriptures." We know that the prophets, by the Holy Spirit, have foreseen what will happen. This, however, does not take away the choices of the people who have acted to create this event, this betrayal. Nor do these words simply mean that Jesus is following what has been written in Scripture for its own sake, forcing a scenario according to a written script. It is, rather, the other way around. The Scriptures tell of what was to happen - and Jesus is fulfilling his Father's will for his own choices in this scene. My study bible is teaching something quite subtle and important, it seems to me. The apostles must accept, as well, what is happening and how Jesus chooses to respond. We, too, have our holy Scripture - these Gospels - so that we understand, in a sense, when we are called upon to make choices that don't necessarily make obvious sense, but ask of us great forbearance and strength.

The apostles scatter. The shepherd has been struck. Jesus has become the stumbling block that he predicted he would become. His movement - as he has foreseen - is left in this forsaken place. How can he know what will become of them? What they will choose? What will become of his ministry? He has told them that he will go before them to Galilee. In the upcoming readings we will see the events of the Passion, and what happens. But in this moment, we should recall the strength of this Shepherd for what he has to do, despite the availability of great power he could use instead. May your strength or forbearance be strong because of Him and his example for all of us. This is his Way. It is a strength that comes from the heart and the place where we dwell with God. Take your strength from this faith, this union and relationship, as he did, and walk with him through the hard things of life that take more strength than to wield a sword. Remember that Christ knows that the "spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." Pray for strength to do as He did, with Him.