When they had sung a hymn, they
went out to the Mount of Olives.
Then Jesus said to them, “All of
you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will
strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the
flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you into
Galilee.”
Simon Peter said to him, “Lord,
where are you going?”
Jesus answered, “Where I am
going, you can’t follow now, but you will follow afterwards. Simon, Simon,
Satan asked to have you, to sift you as wheat; I prayed for you, that your
faith wouldn’t fail. After you have turned again, encourage the others.”
Peter answered him, “Even if all
will be made to stumble because of you, I will never do so.”
Jesus said to him, “Tonight,
before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”
Peter said to him, “Even if I
must die with you, I will not deny you.” All of the disciples said the same.
He said to them, “When I sent
you out without purse, and wallet, and shoes, did you lack anything?”
They said, “Nothing.”
Then he said to them, “But now,
whoever has a purse, let him take it, and likewise a wallet. Whoever has none,
let him sell his cloak, and buy a sword. For I tell you that this which is
written must still be fulfilled in me: ‘He was counted with transgressors.’ For
that which concerns me has an end.”
They said, “Lord, we have two
swords.”
He said to them, “That is
enough.”
Reflection
Jesus saw what was coming and
knew his disciples were far from ready. He told them to arm themselves and yet
said two swords was enough for all of them: the battles they would soon face
could never be won with weapons. How prepared are you for the crises of life?
Do you think those who are heavily armed feel safer in today’s world?
Prayer: Give me strength,
Lord, to follow you no matter what.
I think God upholds and guides us, in the experience of facing a crisis, each step of the way. We often don't recognize His presence until we look back on the experience, seeing how each moment was ordered by Our loving Heavenly Father. I have a niece who has battled leukemia for 10 years. Last week, she was given a new source of hope through a stem cell transplant. We are all praying for a miraculous outcome. Her testimony, and her determination to live, has seen her through at least 3 close brushes with death; only to be brought back to life. God's purpose is being achieved through her, as she testifies of her faith and trust in Him to those around her. We marvel at her gracious acceptance, while still fighting this battle with all that is within her.
ReplyDeleteI think God upholds and guides us, in the experience of facing a crisis, each step of the way. We often don't recognize His presence until we look back on the experience, seeing how each moment was ordered by Our loving Heavenly Father. I have a niece who has battled leukemia for 10 years. Last week, she was given a new source of hope through a stem cell transplant. We are all praying for a miraculous outcome. Her testimony, and her determination to live, has seen her through at least 3 close brushes with death; only to be brought back to life. God's purpose is being achieved through her, as she testifies of her faith and trust in Him to those around her. We marvel at her gracious acceptance, while still fighting this battle with all that is within her.
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