Commentary on the Gospel of
Shifting the Blame
When Jesus announces the betrayal, what disturbs the disciples is not the fact that Jesus will be betrayed but that it will be one of them who does it! There is an eagerness to find out who it is—if it is not me, it’s okay. Pilate was not the only one used to washing one’s hands off. Peter goes one step further, as he normally does, and declares that he is ready to give up his life for Jesus. Mark puts it more bluntly in Peter’s mouth: “Even if all the others fall away, I will not” (Mk 14: 29). Sadly, the focus for nearly everyone is on absolving oneself, while the Master is left alone in his grief of betrayal and death. If we closely examine our own practicing of faith, perhaps we are no better off—as Peter would realize to his horror, sooner than later.
