Some relationships imply trust, and we expect them to be trustworthy. We count on them. Children should be able to trust their parents for love, nurture, and physical and emotional support. Husbands should be able to trust their wives and wives their husbands without worrying about infidelity or malice. Brothers and sisters should be able to trust each other because they are part of the same family. Co-workers must trust one another in the workplace, too. These relationships should exclude the possibility of betrayal, yet betrayal still may occur. Sometimes children are abused physically and emotionally by the parents who should care for them. Sometimes marriages end in divorce instead of a permanent bond. Brothers and sisters are not always trustworthy, and co-workers we depend upon may choose to betray us to serve the perceived goals of their own careers.“On the night in which he was betrayed, Jesus took bread...” says our communion liturgy. When we hear this passage, we usually focus on the broken bread. However, the liturgy begins by reminding us that Jesus himself was betrayed. His disciples were like brothers to him, but one of them betrayed him. Even for the Son of God, betrayal was a part of the experience of life on this earth. If he faced betrayal, inevitably we, too, will be disappointed by those who should be the most dependable.
Betrayal shocks, hurts, disappoints us. We long for a relationship that will not let us down. We long for someone who will not sell us out for their own self-interest. We want to be able to depend on another person whose love never changes. As Christians, we know only one relationship that meets these standards -- our relationship with Christ, who is the same yesterday, today and forever. Earthly friends and even family members may betray us, but Jesus will never let us down. We can count on him and not be disappointed.
~ Lenten Devotional Group
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