In the Christian narrative, Holy Week spans the distance from Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem through his death and resurrection. On the Thursday of that week, a day referred to as Maundy Thursday (Maundy in Latin = command “love one another”), Jesus shares a final Passover supper with disciples in a rented room. This meal is positioned in the center of a most transitional period of time, one between the public ministry of Jesus and his exaltation. It is a moment fraught with love, anticipation, grief, and betrayal. The last of these, betrayal, is a critical facet of all life, one that both breaks and defines community. In the sacred hero myths of the world, the protagonist is often portrayed as the innocent one who is sacrificed by the dark motivations of humanity. This experience of betrayal, I believe, shows up in these stories precisely because it is central to human experience. Which one of us has not received or committed an act of betrayal?

In the following short podcast, I offer a reflection on betrayal in this most intimate of moments. The narrative suspends characters and readers in liminal time, as we struggle with our deepest inclinations and hopes.

Betrayal Among Friends