watch and pray
04.18.2011 
Today we enter Holy Week. In Honduras, no greater holiday exists. La Semana Santa far outshines Christmas. Stores shut down. Most people, even the poorer families, find their way to the beach.
In downtown Tegucigalpa, artists craft carpets of painted sawdust covering the narrow streets. Curators walk the streets with spray bottles sprinkling water so that the sawdust won’t blow away in the dry wind. On Holy Sunday, a priest and some men in white robes will walk the carpet and stop at each station of the cross. A mass is held at the end of that procession in a small cathedral nearby.
I am pondering the moment when Jesus enters the Garden of Gethsemane and asks his disciples to watch and pray. He says he is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. His disciples snoozed.
When he returns, he says: “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."
This lenten season has been long. Amen, anybody? While I wait for spring, I am craning my neck to see the Resurrection just around the corner. It’s hard for us Protestants to stay in this death watch. Historically, I have paid little attention to this week. Living in Honduras changed me in a number of ways.
This week, I heed the words of Jesus: WATCH AND PRAY. The Spirit is willing but the body is weak.
I want to learn to pray the words Jesus prayed. And mean it.
"My Father, if there is no other way than this, drinking this cup to the dregs, I'm ready. Do it your way."
Honduras, Lent, Present to the Moment, Wait on God
Reader Comments (2)
I was reading this morning how Jesus warns His friends for their own safety and their own good, with warm affection in the face of ingratitude: "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak"....But, they ALL went to sleep anyway! Jesus warns me also this morning in quietness with Him,"my daughter who I love so much, Your spirit is willing, but your flesh is SO weak". Your words drive it in a little more deeper...ok susan pay attention to this! So thank you!!
Susan, love those words. They press me farther as well.