Good morning…
I have tried three times to write this Maundy-Thursday message.
1:30 – 3:30 am: My plethora of scattered thoughts just simply would not connect. I went back to bed.
7:00 to 9:00 am: After working diligently again, I touched one wrong random button. Away zapped all my hard, irretrievable work.
Now it’s 9:01 am: I give up. I surrender. I stop trying. An Ah-ha reminder returns, “For Lent, I am giving up trying.”
Then calmly, quietly God steps up to inspire just one segment of Scripture and a few photos from our time in the garden of Gethsemane. When God steps up, I step out of the way.
As I stop trying, again, what might God be saying to you directly as you face the struggles of this day?
…Sue…
Jesus Prays Alone
Jesus and his ·followers [disciples] went to a place called Gethsemane. He said to them, “Sit here while I pray.” Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be very ·sad [distressed] and ·troubled [anguished]. He said to them, “My ·heart [soul] is ·full of sorrow [overwhelmed with grief], to the point of death. Stay here and ·watch [stay awake; be alert].”
After walking a little farther away from them, Jesus fell [with his face] to the ground and prayed that, if possible, ·he would not have this time of suffering [the hour might pass him by]. He prayed, “Abba [Aramaic for “father”], Father! You can do all things. ·Take away this cup of suffering [Take this cup from me; suffering is metaphorically portrayed as something bitter to drink; see 10:38]. But do ·what you want [your will], not ·what I want [my will]” (Mark 14:32-36, EXB).
