Places 17: Gethsemane

In the fun of colored eggs and family and all the beauty of the lilies and the “Hallelujahs” of Easter,  I can focus so fully on the joyous triumph of “He is Risen” that the fullness of why Jesus denied Himself and choose His Father’s will—even death on a cross— falls in the background. Revising this poem it struck me that Jesus was passionately in love. He trustingly loved His Father in Heaven and He was love-sick with longing for you and me. He wanted His Bride.He wanted to give His Father in Heaven a family.  He died so that we could be born into new lives, lives filled with the life of His Holy Spirit. Back there, facing the cross, He wanted us to join Him, not only after death, but today, as we deny ourselves to live out the remainder of our earthly lives in His love. Today, His arms are outstretched to welcome us into His Father’s family and to share in all their immeasurable self-giving love. This Lent, I’m asking the Holy Spirit to help me love Jesus more and more. Will you join me?

Lord, it’s Lent again—
help me to abide in You.
This year, please awaken me.

I want to know Your love,
Your horror of sin.
I’m willing to be willing—
will You plant Your Father’s will within?

Lord— You know how weak i am,
how nothing, nothing I can do
has any value without You.
Please help me watch with You.

Help me not deny
Your cries,
the truth of Love you lived and died.

Lord,
how can i put
Love’s driving heat,
Love’s poundings beats,
into words?.

john and peter slept
insensible to pain

did they need to deny
Your agonizing cries,

the drops of blood
like sweat upon Your head?

Numbed to the reality
of all You’d said,

did they refuse to see
that Your body,
their strong friend
tomorrow’s paschal lamb
would soon be dead?

How can i put
The wordless into words?

Help me not deny
the truth i’ve heard—
Your sweat in drops of blood for me.

 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father— Please help me to willingly and gladly surrender to Your will and Your word—trusting always that I will find joy before me—even as Jesus went to the cross for the joy before Him. Help me to abide in Your love.