So how about the head of ASIO saying that one of our former politicians was a foreign government asset? It was one of those announcements, in an otherwise routine speech that landed like a dead possum onto a picnic table – it had to be disposed of, but even when it’s gone its presence at all still puts you off your meal.
The whole thing has felt very last supper-y. Very, very quickly after the declaration, “one of you has betrayed us” former politicians fell over themselves, from Joe Hockey down, to front the press and declare essentially “Surely not I Lord!”
There were high-minded explanations offered as to why the ASIO boss should come clean and just tell us who it was. “This person is still out in the open doing business, shouldn’t we be protected?” But Hockey was the most honest when he said, “The ASIO boss should name the culprit, lest all former politicians be smeared by association.” It’s a naked admission: “I have a legacy to protect. I don’t want to be besmirched by a blanket accusation!”
As we move towards Easter, I’ve been rereading some of the bits of the gospel stories that lead up to Jesus’ arrest. I am struck that after Jesus’ declaration, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.’ (Matthew 26:21) the disciples’ first move was to sure up their place at the table. None of them said “That’s terrible Jesus! How can we help you? How can we watch and pray so that we don’t fall into temptation?” Instead, they imagined a Guess Who board with every other disciple on it. They ranked the chances of each other disciple being the spy (with them at the end of the list, obvs). They became puffed up. They fell into the pride and self-confidence that meant they ran in the garden when the sight of swords and clubs saw their confidence punctured.
I’d like to think that the best that can come from something like this is that everyone with power in our city would hear the ASIO boss and think, “it could be me.” And watch. And pray.
grace and peace,
Steve