from Steve's copy of Eternal Seasons by Henri Nouwen:
Jesus, sitting at table with his disciples, said, "One of you will betray me" (John 13:21). I read this to day in the Gospel.
As I look more closely at Jesus' words as they are written in Greek, a better translation would be "One of you will hand me over." The term paradidomi means "to give over, to hand over, to give into the hands of" (Romans 8:32).
If we translate Judas's acton as "to betray," as applied to Judas, we do not fully express the mystery because Judas is described as being an instrument of God's work. that is why Jesus said, "The Son of Man is going to his fate, as the scriptures say he will, but alas for the man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed (handed over) (Matthew 26:24).
this moment when Jesus is handed over to those who do with him as they please is a turning point in Jesus' ministry. It is turning from action to passion. After years of teaching, preaching, healing, and moving to wherever he wanted to go, Jesus is handed over to the caprices of his enemies. Things are no longer done by him, but to him. He is flagellated, crowned with thorns, spat at, laughed at, stripped, and nailed naked to a cross. He is a passive victim, subject to other people's actions. From the moment Jesus is handed over, his passion begins, and through his passion he fulfils his vocation. (Steve underlined this)
It is important for me to realize that Jesus fulfills his mission not by what he does, but by what is done to him. Just as with everyone else, most of my life is determined by what is done to me and thus is passion. And because most of my life is passion, things being done to me, only small parts of my life are determined by what i think, say, or do. I am inclined to protest against this and to want all to be action, originated by me. But the truth is that my passion is a much greater part of my life than my action. Not to recognize this is self-deception and not to embrace my passion with love is self rejection. (Steve's notes: 'that i can't control things. that i have to live with what comes.)
It is good news to know that Jesus is handed over to passion and through his passion accomplishes his di vine task on earth. it is good news for a world passionately searching for wholeness.
Jesus' words to Peter remind me that Jesus' transition from action to passion must also be ours if we want to follow his way. He says, "When you were young you put on your own belt and walked where you liked; but when you grow old you will not stretch out your hands, and somebody else will take you where you would rather not go."John 21:18
I too, have to let myself be handed over and thus fulfill my vocation.