March 25, 2015

“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?”
Matthew 26:40

In the final, late night hours before his arrest, Jesus went to Gethsemane to pray for the strength to submit to God's will.  Earlier in the evening he had shared the Passover meal with his disciples, modifying it into what we now know as Holy Communion, and foretold of his betrayal and the desertion of the rest of his disciples.  This was a stressful and confusing time for all involved.

After they had sung the hymn, Jesus led the eleven disciples (Judas having left the group to go round up a mob) out to the Mount of Olives.  Leaving eight disciples behind, Jesus took with him Peter, James and John up further to the place called Gethsemane.  And then, leaving those three behind, Jesus went on further by himself to pray.  He prayed to God, “if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.”

It was a stressful and confusing time for all involved; but Jesus knew his hour had come and all he asked was that his friends spend one wakeful and watchful hour with him before being condemned to death.

A week from tomorrow the Great Three Days, the Triduum, begins that runs from Maundy Thursday through Good Friday and Holy Saturday to the evening of Easter.  During that time we share a meal and foot washing, participate in the final Communion before Easter and strip the altar.  During that time we go to the cross with Good Friday services at Noon and 7 p.m.  During that time we mourn the death of Jesus as all the world lives in the moment between death and resurrection.  And finally we celebrate Christ’s victory over death.

But to get to Easter we must go through Good Friday.  To get to resurrection we must go to the cross.

A week from tomorrow the Triduum begins with Maundy Thursday.  Church tradition asks that we, too, stay wakeful and watchful through the night and up to Noon on Good Friday.

But Church tradition only asks us, like Jesus asked his disciples, to stay awake for one hour.  Many churches have night watches at some location in their building.  Many others ask their faithful members to stay awake in prayer at a location convenient to them.  I ask you, the faithful members of St. Luke's, to remain awake for one hour at some point during the hours from the evening of Maundy Thursday to Noon on Good Friday.

There is a sign up sheet on the kitchen door for people to commit to one hour of wakeful watchfulness and prayer.  Will you commit to staying awake with Jesus for one hour that night?  Will you pray with Jesus for the strength to do God's will?

In the words of a favorite hymn:  Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour.

May you have a blessed and meaningful Holy Week.

Amen.