One of the ways that my church observes Holy Week is to simulate the Last Supper. Using the famous painting by Leonardo Da Vinci as the scene and the script by Ernest K. Emurian, the dramatic setting utilizes the idea of midrash to delve deeper into the narratives of the twelve disciples. We hear the stories of these amazing followers of Jesus, and the possibilities of various struggles and thoughts regarding how their lives were transformed by following this one they called the Messiah. This telling of the story is a wonderful and powerful opportunity to delve a little deeper into the stories of redemption and hope found in the Gospels.
I am playing John, the beloved disciple. One of the things that caught my attention in the script was the intimate way in which John speaks about Jesus. While I realize the words were created by a 20th century author, I can’t help but think that he was not too far off the mark. The disciples experienced the presence of Jesus. Why would their relationships not be incredibly intense and very close?
One of the things that I attempt to be is authentic in my relationship to God. This requires me to take time to discover who and what God is and what it means to be in covenant with the Divine. Intimacy is a necessary ingredient to living in communion with each other. In order to love bolder and richer, I must share from the depths of who I am. I want to be like the beloved disciple John, who stressed his undying love and devotion to this man named Jesus. I want to be just as passionate, just as caring, and just as trusting.
Today I am grateful for the example of the disciples. May their lives be a model for how to live with God. Like them, I struggle and seek to live a life that is pleasing in the sight of the one who created me. My hope and prayer is to always strive to remain connected to the source of all wisdom. It is with this bold claim that I continue on my journey.
From a Pastor's Point of View 