Lent Guide: In the Shadow of GethsemaneSample

Pray

Gethsemane

I watch the push of soft red petal from the cactus’ tip,

the sticky cobweb strung from spike to spike.

These days, when prayer’s too hoarse, too ripped

for words—I cannot say a word—does that still count?

Answer: we know how his tight mesh of skin that night

leaked drops of blood. And how the angel came,

pushed through the dark like hand through sleeve,

like notes of ordered song from vicious wind. All comes

from inside out. Dread thoughts escape, un-skinned,

and wild—like moths or silver flash of olive leaves—

but, too, the angel comes from where he hid, and sings.

The curtain tears and so does skin and so does prayer;

it is a kind of wordless tearing—our brokenness used

as entry for him; our brokenness filled by his.

-Sally Read

Luke 22:39-46 (NLT)

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

• To want to follow Him in prayer, I first need to believe that it’s possible and that it’s worth it. The disciples thought so. They asked Him, “Lord, teach us to pray…” (Luke 11:1). They saw Him pray and the effect that prayer had on His life, and they thought it was possible for them to do it, too – that’s why they ask Him.
• Prayer is connection, communication, and relationship transfer. Once you experience something of this, the word “prayer” becomes a wonderful word. It no longer means guilt, a burden, or obligation. It means life.
• I am taken to a place where I gain a deep desire to live like Him, but I realise I won’t achieve it on my own… He will have to help me.