Day 9: Beginning and ending in the Garden

Olive trees can live thousands of years because the new sprouts come right out of the dead trees.

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”  He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to feel sorrow and distress.  Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death.* Remain here and keep watch with me.”  He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My Father,* if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.”  When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour?  Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test.  The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  Withdrawing a second time, he prayed again, “My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass without my drinking it, your will be done!”  Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open.  He left them and withdrew again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing again.  Then he returned to his disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand when the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners. Get up, let us go. Look, my betrayer is at hand.”

Matthew 26:36-46

Today was not a day for the faint of heart or feet.

 We began and ended our day at the Mount of Olives.  

The church of the Ascension 

 The stone Jesus is claimed to have been standing on when he Ascended.

Statue of King David purposefully defaced.

The tomb of King David.

The Upper Room, location of first Mass/Last Supper, washing of feet, Pentacost, Doubting Thomas encounter.

Church on spot where Jesus wept for Jerusalem.

As he drew near and came in sight of the city he shed tears over it and said, 'If you too had only recognised on this day the way to peace! But in fact it is hidden from your eyes!  Yes, a time is coming when your enemies will raise fortifications all round you, when they will encircle you and hem you in on every side; they will dash you and the children inside your walls to the ground; they will leave not one stone standing on another within you, because you did not recognise the moment of your visitation.

Luke 19: 41-44

The view of Jerusalem today from the spot where Jesus wept.

The Dormition

Statue of the Denial of Peter

Picture depicting the way Jesus was lowered into the dungeon where he was held on Holy Thursday evening.

View looking down into the hole where they lowered Him down.

Our group in the dungeon where they held our Lord.

Holy Hour in Mount of Olives.

The Rock in Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed and sweat blood.

Prayer intentions: For prisoners, the wrongfully accused, people who we need to forgive for wronging us, those who we need to ask for forgiveness, God's loving mercy for those who need it most, the abandoned, neglected, abused, people who need to turn toward God's loving mercy, and for all of the prayer intentions we bring with us.  Amen