“in beauty there echoes
a spark of our source”
– Sleeping At Last, “Bad Blood”

Samuel prepared a table for David, afraid. A table of anointing in the presence of jealousy and danger becomes well-worn poetry.

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.”

The bread has been baked, the grapes have been trampled, and the one who passed out loaves and fishes, who heard the Beatitudes, who saw and followed and knew, ate and drank. A Eucharist of betrayal.

And Jesus knew. He knew he had been sold. And yet he still prepared a table. He didn’t try to talk Judas out of his decision. He didn’t refuse to live, work or eat with him.

We malign Judas, condemn his soul to hell, forgetting we are too often like him, far too less like Jesus.

Come join me over at Emily Miller’s place to read the rest of my reflection on the second station of the cross.