Sweating blood

After Luke 22:39-46 

He sets himself

apart, as he is known

to do, to pray,

usually a means

to restore the spirit,

restore the strength,

but not this time,

this time a prayer

of, first, avoidance,

understanding what

is to come, and asking

it be taken away, followed

by, second, acceptance

of what must come.

 

The answer is an angel,

a presence to strengthen,

a presence of certainty

of what is imminent, 

and the response is

more fervent prayer,

an agony of prayer,

the words coming

from the agony

of the soul, an agony

so intense that sweat

falls like drops

of blood.

 

Photograph by Mathilda Khoo via Unsplash. Used with permission.

The garden at night

After Luke 22:39-45 

He withdraws into the garden,

separates himself from the rest,

a stone’s throw away, close

but with space, with privacy,

for prayer.

Alone,

the most alone for all time.

He knows the cup is 

before him;

if it were his choice,

he’d refuse it, have it

removed, have it

taken away.

But it is not his choice;

the cup remains. Even as 

the angel comes

to strengthen,

to bring him strength.

he prays in agony,

agony of spirit,

agony of heart,

agony of mind,

agony of soul,

agony sufficient

to draw blood.

 

Photograph by Olivier Miche via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Short statement

After Luke 22:39-45 

It is a short statement

he makes, as the end

draws near and disciples

gather round, a simple

statement that he is

to be counted among

the transgressors, he is

to be numbered among

the criminals.

Transgressors and

criminals often face

death. But here, 

in this court case, 

the sentence will be

meted out to fulfill

the prophecy, to fulfill

the word of the prophet:

he poured out his soul

to death,

he bore the sin of many

to death.

 

Photograph by Markus Spiske via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Arms and the man

After Luke 22:39-45 

They were armed.

We should know that,

after all, a servant’s ear

was cut off in the garden,

but it seems a surprise

to consider that disciples

carried arms, swords,

mentioned (both times)

in or near the garden,

the beginning of the end

of the beginning. Disciples

carried weapons. Why is

that so surprising to know

that they were armed,

likely for protection?

Perhaps because he

approved.

 

Photograph by Andre Pfeifer via Unsplash. Used with permission.