Asleep with an Invitation to Wake Up - July 18

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 41, 52; PM Psalm 44: Joshua 7:1-13; Rom. 13:8-14; Matt. 26:36-46

I get the sense Jesus is not only frustrated but disappointed that his friends were unable to stay awake through the evening in the Garden of Gethsemane. Not once, but three times he comes back to find them sleeping. Jesus has gone to the garden, not only to grieve, but the scriptures say to ‘be agitated.’ I’m not sure I have noticed those words before, but grief and agitation seem like good roommates today.  Jesus has to tell his friends three times and they still can’t get it straight, stay away even for an evening.  I’m not surprised he is agitated.  They just don’t get it.

It seems pretty straightforward to the reader who sympathizes with Jesus, coming back to find his friends asleep as the story unfolds. But what happens when find ourselves in the place of the disciples, being awakened to a friend’s grief and agitation having once again failed to meet their expectations? Is the Gospel a warning or a reminder of what will happen with a vision for a kingdom way to live that is always a possibility and yet just out of touch from reality? 

There are two realities that this can point us to that can be especially helpful in a community that has faced a tremendous amount of grief and loss.  First, we will fail to meet the expectations of others.  We will find ourselves not quite fully understanding the depth of pain that others are living with at this present time.  It may even feel to others that we are asleep to the grief that others are facing.  It’s oddly comforting that the narrator reminds us that the disciples’ “eyes were heavy.” They have done too much to stay awake. 

But being asleep makes an assumption – that we can be awakened.  I am finding awakened a helpful world.  What God is asking us is not to be consumed or taken over by a feeling of emotions only to be aware of it and attuned to it.  This assumes a listening posture, an awareness that previously was not there, and some generosity around listening.  We can both be unaware of the pain around us and be open to receiving the pain and grief. 

Maybe this is all good news.  We aren’t capable of fully comprehending the depth of pain in others’ lives.  And yet every day is an opportunity to listen, to find ourselves invited to be awakened once again.  So, “Get up, let us be going.” It’s a daily invitation into a deeper relationship with each other and God.  We don’t have to have it all figured out, only be attuned to respond when God wakes us up.

John+

Questions for Self-Reflection:  Where are the grieving people in your own life?  How have you failed to recognize their own pain and when have you been invited to wake up? 

Daily Challenge:  If you are interested in learning about active listening, here is an article that has some tools for listening.