Saturday, March 25
Matthew 26: 36-41
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples,
'Sit here while I go over there and pray.' He took with him Peter and the two sons of
Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, 'I am deeply
grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.' And going a little farther,
he threw himself on the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass
from me; yet not what I want but what you want.' Then he came to the disciples and
found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, 'So, could you not stay awake with me one
hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial;* the spirit
indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Reflect
We continue our reflections on the stations of the cross. See them all here:
http://trappistabbey.org/?page_id=723. Today's reflection is the first station, Jesus in
the Garden of Gethsemane.
Here we are, at the first station. Jesus asks his disciples to join him in Gethsemane. He
needs to prepare himself for the horror that is coming and he wants these loved ones to
be near him at this time. The worst is at hand. We too would want our loved ones close
by, ready to help in whatever way they might. Ready to comfort us, to not leave us, to
keep us company on this painful path.
I know the most common theme of this passage is Jesus asking to have 'the cup taken
away, but Thy will be done'. This time, as I pause in this first station of Gethsemane,
something different strikes me – Peter. Peter - the friend.
Peter - who has been with Jesus since the beginning. Peter - who has been invited to be
there for all the high points: nets heavy with fish, a walk on the water, literal mountain
top experiences, raising a man from the dead, a triumphant parade, and a last meal
together. And now he is invited to be close at hand, when Jesus is at his most vulnerable.
If any of the disciples are friends, Peter must certainly be one of the closest ones.
Closest, but maybe not the best. After pouring his heart out, Jesus asks only that he stay
awake and pray. How hard can that be? We know how hard it is. Everyday we're asked to
stay awake for one friend or another - and isn't all humankind supposed to be 'our
friend'? How can we maintain such vigilance all the time? And if everything becomes
important, nothing is important.
What's a good [fill in the blank: Christian / Republican / Democrat / Independent /
Muslim / Jew / atheist / …] to do?
Jesus tells us, just as he told Peter. I like Eugene Peterson's interpretation of this part. It
reads - "Stay alert; be in prayer so you don't wander into temptation without even
knowing you're in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God.
But there's another part that's as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire."
I admit - I am a lazy old dog, and I like to sleep by that fire. To stay alert, I must work at
a discipline of prayer and self-reflection (not my favorite activity). But I know that this,
like any discipline, prepares me for whatever comes next. To prepare for my walk on the
Camino, I trained with frequent long walks. I know how to do this – my spirit is willing. I
may succeed, or I may fail – my flesh is weak. But really, all Jesus asks of me at this time
is to stay alert and pray.
I'll never be a Peter - look how he shaped up after the resurrection - my spirit is willing,
but my flesh is weak! Nevertheless I do hope (and pray) that I can be a friend to others no matter who / no matter what. We are called to look for Jesus in everyone - that's my
challenge. What's yours?
Ponder
What part of you is as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire? Are you challenging
yourself this Lent to get up and get on with the Christian life?
Pray
Here is a favorite prayer of mine. It was written and prayed daily by Father Mychal Judge
– priest to the firefighters in NYC. He died on 9/11, in the Twin Towers, and was listed #1
on the list of deceased.
Lord, take me where you want me to go.
Let me meet who you want me to meet.
Tell me what you want me to say, and keep me out of your way. Amen.
Author
Sandy Talbott – parish nurse, doting grandmother, friend to many –
working on being a friend to ALL.