Retreat in Time of Sorrow: Day 3

retreat in time of sorrow
"Could you not watch one hour with me?" Matthew 26:40

Today I would like us to continue our reflections on the great mystery of human suffering. It is such a painful experience for all of us. And when it affects me, personally, I run away. I try every effort to blunt the emptiness, the agony. Escapisms of all kinds are pursued. Sometimes the darkness is so deep that we run in all directions to keep from sinking into depression. But the "Hound of Heaven" pursues us. All our efforts are partial and temporary. We forget the great insight of St. Augustine:

"O God, our hearts are made for you and they are restless until they rest in you."

As you prepare for this retreat day cry out to the Lord. Our God is a compassionate and caring God. Your prayers will be heard. Tell God of your loneliness, claim your relationship. You need God to watch one hour with you!

Preparation

As you begin this retreat day you may want to hold a crucifix in your hands -- that is how close your compassionate God will be to you. Now, empty your heart of distractions. Breathe deeply several times. Remember the God who loves you is deep in your heart. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to pray:

The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26

Meditation

Remember the evening before Jesus' Passion and death. The Last Supper is over; Jesus has left the upper room. He walks into the olive grove, the Garden of Olives, with his closest apostles: Peter, James, and John. Go with them. They are the companions who will provide needed comfort. They had witnessed the glory on the Mount of Transfiguration. Now they are to accompany the Lord into this place where Jesus will confront his God. Be with them. In the darkness of the night he will wrestle with his decision to go on.

Jesus prays; friends sleep The words of Scripture are so simple and powerful:

Taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is sorrowful, even to death; remain here and watch with me. Then going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed. Matthew 26: 38

Jesus, on the threshold of his death, prays a prayer filled with fear and apprehension:

Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but yours be done.

Three times Jesus wrestles with God. At the end we read:

In his anguish he prayed more earnestly and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. Luke 22:44

Jesus' desolation is total. His body is wracked with the tension. In his loneliness he comes back repeatedly to his faithful friends and finds them sleeping: "Could you not watch one hour with me?"

day three: reflection

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