Stay and Keep Watch

We had another beautiful day in Jerusalem. We had seventy degree weather, blue skies, and a nice breeze. The sites we visited were somewhat more somber, evoking feelings of sadness, anguish, dejection, and fear. We visited the site of Our Lord's acceptance of the greatest trial: the acceptance of the plan of salvation of all humanity at the garden of Gethsemane. We first visited the chapel where Peter, James, and John fell asleep on the Mount of Olives. On approaching the site, one could be surprised about how inconspicuous and and unnoticeable the place is. It was not a garden at all but a cave or a grotto that over the centuries had been built over the garden. There was art depicting the scene of Jesus praying in the garden and lights that dimly lit up the small cave. There was a beautiful crucifix near an inscription on the wall that said in Latin "Stay here and keep watch with me." This recalls when Jesus went into the garden and prayed and brought Peter, James, and John along. They came and fell asleep "about stone's throw away." At the altar we had Mass. Like us, his disciples were learning how to pray and to follow God's will. Like us seminarians, the disciples were learning that Jesus calls us to follow Him and that this sometimes involves sacrifice, trials, alienation, and afflictions. Like His disciples 2,000 years ago, we modern disciples of Jesus are still learning how to follow His will and accept the crosses we receive. Christ was concerned with His Father's will. He was teaching them that they would need to do the Father's will as He did. The Father's will for Christ was to save the world (John 3:16). In order to do that He would have to undergo the greatest suffering ever experienced. We had a beautiful Mass and prayed for all those who suffer in any way. After receiving Communion I recalled how one of professors had told us that the Greek word for agony means to turn towards the truth. In order to do this, stress and tension happen, hence the English word agony, which connotation the struggle. This was a reminder to me that the Christian is called to truth and integrity, and the only way to do this is through prayer to the Father as Jesus, Our Lord, showed us. For me, this was a reminder of our high calling, that every Christian has. To accomplish the will of the Father.

We then went to the Church of All Nations where Jesus prayed by Himself to the Father. It is a beautiful large church filled with shining, colorful mosaics. At this site Jesus said yes to the Father. The Father has big plans for all of us to do great things. Let us remember that the Father raised Jesus from the grave and will vindicate us from whatever trials we face for doing His will. Let us stay with Him and keep watch.