Since this challenge for SALT goes live a few days before Easter Sunday, I (Pauline) decided to reflect on the events in the garden of Gethsemane and used a reflection from Karen Rollins in my preparation which expands the theme I wanted to explore. Some of this reflection is included here.
In Matthew 26, Mark 14 and Luke 22, Jesus, along with Peter, James and John, goes to the garden of Gethsemane. He tells his disciples that he is upset "even to the point of death," asks them to wait for him as he goes on ahead and tells them to stay awake. Jesus goes on, then falls to the ground and prays to His father. He asks to be relieved from his suffering and yet makes clear that He will do what His Father demands. He returns to Peter, James and John and finds them asleep. He is disappointed that they are not able to stay awake even as he undergoes torments. This then happens another two times. Jesus declares that the "hour is near" and He has been betrayed and they start to leave.
As He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus made a plea to God to deliver him from his suffering. He knows God has the power to do all things and asks God to use that power to save Him from the trials that are coming. He is agitated because He knows that while as a human He has a choice, He is being called to obedience.
Jesus doesn’t avoid life. In the scripture readings, Jesus is facing life head on and is paying the price for it. The Jesus we find in the garden of Gethsemane isn’t a Jesus we hear much about. This Jesus is distressed, agitated and deeply grieved. This is a very human Jesus in a very uncomfortable position.
A struggling Jesus, a human Jesus, a Jesus that teaches us to face life head on and not to avoid being uncomfortable.
I wanted the SALT team to have the freedom to choose an aspect from the story that spoke to them personally. The humanness of Jesus is where my layout came from, but you will see from the contributions that there are many aspects to the story and our layouts, cards and other creations reflect that. I hope you are inspired by the team’s creations and that if you decide to participate in the challenge that you will link back to us in the comments.
The SALT team wishes you all a very Happy and blessed Easter.
Pauline
Lythan
Hazel
Kim
In Matthew 26, Mark 14 and Luke 22, Jesus, along with Peter, James and John, goes to the garden of Gethsemane. He tells his disciples that he is upset "even to the point of death," asks them to wait for him as he goes on ahead and tells them to stay awake. Jesus goes on, then falls to the ground and prays to His father. He asks to be relieved from his suffering and yet makes clear that He will do what His Father demands. He returns to Peter, James and John and finds them asleep. He is disappointed that they are not able to stay awake even as he undergoes torments. This then happens another two times. Jesus declares that the "hour is near" and He has been betrayed and they start to leave.
As He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus made a plea to God to deliver him from his suffering. He knows God has the power to do all things and asks God to use that power to save Him from the trials that are coming. He is agitated because He knows that while as a human He has a choice, He is being called to obedience.
Jesus doesn’t avoid life. In the scripture readings, Jesus is facing life head on and is paying the price for it. The Jesus we find in the garden of Gethsemane isn’t a Jesus we hear much about. This Jesus is distressed, agitated and deeply grieved. This is a very human Jesus in a very uncomfortable position.
A struggling Jesus, a human Jesus, a Jesus that teaches us to face life head on and not to avoid being uncomfortable.
I wanted the SALT team to have the freedom to choose an aspect from the story that spoke to them personally. The humanness of Jesus is where my layout came from, but you will see from the contributions that there are many aspects to the story and our layouts, cards and other creations reflect that. I hope you are inspired by the team’s creations and that if you decide to participate in the challenge that you will link back to us in the comments.
The SALT team wishes you all a very Happy and blessed Easter.
Pauline
Lythan
Hazel
KimJulie
2 comments:
Great projects by all! Thanks for the inspiration.
A prayer for this time of year:
Take O Lord and receive
my entire liberty
Take my memory, my understanding and my whole will.
All I have and possess
you have gifted to me:
To you, O Lord, I restore it;
I leave it in your hands
that you may order it entirely according to your will.
Gift me only your Love and your Grace.
With these I have riches enough and desire nothing more.
St Ignatius Loyola
(The 'gift me' sounds a bit strange, but comes from the German version which uses a word that means specifically to give a present, and St Ignatius sees the whole of life, good or bad, as a gift from God).
wishing you all every blessing at this holy time.
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