Moving
On With Jesus....Christ's Church, Mandurah
Open-ended, Life-centred
Explorations of the (supplementary) Gospels..Lent-Easter Year A
MT 26: 36-56...Lent 2 (A)
NOTES:
(1) Getheseman means an oil press,
& was probably on the Mount of Olives. There is a
linguistic connection between Olive Oil & mercy (cf. the Good
Samaritan story). (2) v.56
tells us what
happens is 'to make the writings of the Prophets come true'.
Worth bearing in mind.
PRAYER:
For strength to move on by 'hanging in there' with Jesus, not least in prayer. (That
doesn't mean long-windedness!)
WARM UP:
(for Groups): Are we better at giving people a 'kiss of death' or a
'kissof life'?
MOVING
ON:
1. Do we have any Gethsemane(s) of
our own? Given the ancient linguistic connection between olive oil
& mercy (cf. the 'Good Samaritan' story) would moving on with
Jesus mean we are free to choose mercy over aggression in dealing with
others?
2. Do we ever pray in the
kind of 'dejection & anguish' (as one translation puts it) Jesus
does here? If we don't, might that mean we're not praying hard enough,
or only for soft options? Might there be advantages if we were to pray
with a companion or two of
our choosing, as distinct from privately, or as a congregation?
3. Are we as persistent as we
might be in prayer, or do we give up too soon, fall asleep,
etc.? Are we too easily distracted from our praying? Are there lessons
here for moving on with Jesus in the way He prays, so we could pray more effectively?
4. Are there ways we are
betraying Jesus by failing to give Him the support He needs in this
situation or that? Does a lack of commitment to Him ever mean we
desert, betray, or crucify others? If we are conscious of doing this
kind of thing to anyone in any way, could we put that right? Is this a
good time to re-assess to whom
or what we are really
committed?
5. Does the symbolism of the
physical attack on the High Priest's slave raise any questions about
the way we or our church work
through personal or public disagreements? Do we react to others in the
Spirit of
Jesus & the God He reveals to us - & wants to reveal in us? How
come religion so often seems to bring out the worst in us rather than
the best?
6. Are we ever puzzled or
disconcerted by the fact that in clashes between good & evil, God
so often loses out- or seems to? Is this an intrinsic message of the Scriptures? Where
does the fact that Jesus Himself is caught up
in the consequences of that leave us so far as our faith is concerned?
7. Can we think of ways in
which we still make Jesus
victim rather than
Victor by what we do or don't do? If we choose not to move on with
Jesus by giving Him total loyalty & obedience, isn't the only
alternative that we are choosing to move away from Him? If we choose to
avoid suffering with Jesus at any level, are we not also choosing to
avoid being raised with Him - now & hereafter? Is there any present
or future for us in moving away rather than moving on?
( For Groups: Closing prayers &
'housekeeping arrangements' for next meeting, etc.)