betrayal and community: maundy thursday

Parker Palmer, prompted by the question of how Jesus could stay at the table with Judas and the other disciples, aware of the betrayal of him:

“Community is not so much a demonstration of heaven as it is a via negativa to God. We will always be disillusioned by community. But in the spiritual life disillusionment is a good thing: it means losing out illusions about ourselves and each other. As those illusions fall away we will be able to see reality and truth more clearly. And the truth is that we can rely on God to make community among us even—and especially—when our own efforts fail…And here is the paradox: as we become disillusioned with community and more dependent on God, we become more available for true community with each other…Seeing ourselves and each other clearly, yet seeing God’s continual healing presence among us, we can begin to experience the fruits of the Spirit with each other: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and gentleness.”

From an unpublished essay, "On Staying At The Table". See also John 13.