Date: 12 Feb 2018 Comments: 0

Now for the thoughts on my final reading (aka today’s reading). When we think of Jesus and his time on Earth. His ministry, his life, his temptation, etc. We easily think of Jesus as being stoic and still, he seems to be calm and collected all the time. However, it is clear that during the time leading to his crucifixion, especially in the hours right before the betrayal, Jesus shows the human side of his humanity as he knows what is about to happen to him. “Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”” (Matthew 26:40-41, NLT). Yet, even in that moment of very real fear, Jesus makes a critical statement that we all have to pay attention to: The spirit is willing but the body is weak. I admit that I have plenty of bouts with anxiety (both real and imagined) throughout my life. Sometimes, I have actually let my own fear prevent me from doing something I was determined to do. For a perfect example, when I was doing the medical tasks to prepare for the IVF for the twins, I was about to leave and found out that I was supposed to give a blood test so that they could make sure that the baby(ies) would be healthy. I refused and even walked all the way out… 4 floors down and halfway to the car before I realized that I was so anxious that I had forgotten the sacrifice my wife was making (daily bloodwork, countless shots, etc.) just to do her part and I couldn’t even give a blood test? Of course, I did take the blood test and all is well.. but in that time, I was so weak that I almost gave up on an amazing gift in my life.