Holy Week Reflections: Stay Alert

Scripture Reading:

Matthew 26:36-45 ~

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.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

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.”

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

He 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.”

When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

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. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Reflection:

Jesus, about to be handed over to His accusers, goes to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He takes his closest friends with Him so they can be in prayer with Him. Instead, they fall fast asleep as He agonizes over what He knows is coming.

His comment to them, "Couldn't you keep watch with me for even one hour?" cuts deep. How often do I give in to apathy and spiritual sleepiness? Am I allowing busyness to take the place of listening? "Can I pray and focus enough to hear what God has to say?" 

We can become easily distracted. Distracted by anxious thoughts, our phone, social media, the opinions of others and many other things that keep us from staying focused on hearing God’s voice. Those distractions may be different for each of us.

On Good Friday we contemplate the sacrifice that Christ made for us. Let the weight of that sacrifice resonate with you each day. Watch, pray and stay alert. Find ways to stay focused on God’s voice. Don’t let spiritual apathy and sleepiness creep in.

Prayer activity:

Shut your phone off, find a quiet space and sit in silence for ten minutes, focusing solely on listening to God. Notice distractions and gently return your attention to prayer, reflecting on Jesus' call to "watch and pray."

Jot down moments in your life when spiritual apathy has crept in. Write a brief prayer asking God for renewed alertness and commitment in prayer.

On another note:

My new book, Fostering a Positive Ministry Environment is part of bundle, A Year of Expanded Grace, and is free as an e-book through midnight on April 2nd. You can find out more details here: https://encouragingdeeproots.com/resources