Gethsemane Reflection for Lent Midweek 2

Gethsemane – Reflection for Lent Midweek 2 (Use Matthew readings for Year A and Mark readings for Year B) Matthew 26 36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Mark 14 32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” It seems a funny request, Jesus asking Peter, James and John to keep watch with him. Isn’t this God’s role – to watch over us? Isn’t God supposed to be our protector? “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord look upon you with favour and give you his peace”. “The Lord look upon you”, and yet here Jesus is asking his own disciples, Peter, James and John to watch with him. And Jesus here seems anything but the strong deliverer – the one who will guard us to make sure the wolf doesn’t come and steal, kill and destroy. Satan, whom Peter says prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Jesus is troubled, he is sorrowful, it’s no wonder the people cried out – he can’t even save himself, how can he save us. Maybe you’ve felt this way about God. That he hasn’t been able to look after you. This is a very challenging passage but there is great comfort for us knowing that Jesus, like us, truly human, experienced our suffering and pain. Jesus was human in every aspect – he knows our struggles but it also shows that he is with us in those dark times as he promised – Immanuel, God is with us. Truly human, truly divine – truly God. We are reminded that we have a high priest who is able to empathize with our weaknesses, tempted in every way - just as we are - yet he did not sin. Because he didn’t sin, he can offer us hope in times of struggle; hope through forgiveness of sins. Jesus understands our struggles and can help us in our time of need. We might seem alone but here Jesus invites us to his side – stay here with me – keep watch with me. He didn’t go off alone but invited Peter, James and John to be with him, to watch with him. He invites you to his side as we wait and watch. Like the bridesmaids waiting and watching for the bridegroom to arrive we watch and wait for God to arrive along with Jesus and all of creation that is groaning under the weight of suffering waiting for the redeemer to come- we watch and wait with Jesus by our side. Matthew 26 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Mark 14 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve prayed this prayer. This cup is too difficult. This suffering is too hard. This suffering is too long. Take this away from me. So many times I go back and read – ask for anything in my name and I will give it to you. So many times I’ve read – ask and it will be given to you. So many times I’ve read that you will not let me suffer more than I can endure. I feel more like Habakkuk when he cried out "How long, LORD, must I cry out for help, but you won't listen? What did Jesus mean - Yet not as I will, but as you will. As I look back there have been many that have cried out to you: Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Elijah, Jonah, King David – all of them cried out to you and you never let any of them down. I need to trust you. I do trust you. Lord I believe, help me in my unbelief – your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Not as I will, but as you will dear Father. Matthew 26 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14 37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Jesus finally says something that I totally agree with. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. I would love to get through the day knowing that I have done my best but it seems that I can’t always do that. I know what St Paul meant when he said: What I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. My spirit is strong but my flesh is weak. In my Spirit I delight in God’s law; what a wretched man I am! It can be so hard sometimes. I try to be a good person. I try to do what’s right. My spirit is strong but my flesh is weak. It seems that I can do 99 things right but I do one thing wrong and I feel so guilty. My spirit is strong but my flesh is weak. It seems sometimes that the devil know exactly which buttons to push. Sometimes I feel like I’m not worthy to have you listen to me. I’m not worthy to receive Holy Communion. My spirit is strong but my flesh is weak. But then I remember those comforting words that St Paul spoke in his struggle with the flesh. Who will rescue me from this weak flesh? You prove your love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! Matthew 26 42 Jesus went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” 43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” Mark 14 39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. 41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Pastor Peter Ghalayini 2014