The Mystery of Jesus

Bread and Wine Reading: "The Mystery of Jesus", Blaise Pascal

Scripture Reading: Matthew 26: 38-45
Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.” Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
The Passion of Jesus is something at which we cannot bear to look and yet something that we cannot bear to ignore. It epitomizes the deepest of human pain. Not only did Jesus die the unthinkable death upon the cross, he, for all practical purposes, died alone. Blaise Pascal characterizes the Jesus of the Passion as “troubled”. He says that “Jesus seeks some comfort at least from his three dearest friends, and they sleep: he asks them to bear with him a while, and they abandon him with complete indifference, and with so little pity that it did not keep them awake even for a single moment.”

This is the part of the Passion that is uncomfortable. We can go along with Jesus’ humanity; even surmise that, if only for a time, God in Jesus Christ was “one of us”. But when Jesus starts showing loneliness or, even worse, fear, we squirm a bit because we start seeing a bit too much of our own selves in the story. It is easier for us to turn away; it is easier for us to sleep. Perhaps, then, it will all go away.

And yet, we are asked to share in Jesus’ Passion. This is not supposed to be his to endure alone, for it is only in sharing in the Passion, in taking on a “willing spirit” that we will find ourselves with Christ. It will not make us unafraid of death. Jesus, himself, was afraid of what was to come. Our faith does not take the fear away but rather awakens us to God’s very presence even at our lowest points. And as we see God, we also see ourselves. Pascal continues when he says, “I see the depths of my pride, curiosity, concupiscence…But he was made sin for me. All your scourges fell upon him. He is more abominable than I, and, far from loathing me, feels honored that I go to him and help him. But he healed himself and will heal me all the more surely.” In the Passion, God in Jesus Christ descends to our lowest point, that part of ourselves that we can not bear to acknowledge, that part of ourselves to which we would rather close our eyes and sleep. And, while we are sleeping, God raises even our lowest selves into glory.

Discussion Questions:
1.) In what ways do you think you close your eyes to Jesus’ Passion?
2.) Do you fear death? In what way does your faith speak to that fear?
3.) What is that part of yourself that is the hardest to acknowledge? What is that part that you are tempted to “sleep through”?

So go forth and be awake that you might see everything that God is doing in your life!

Grace and Peace,

Shelli