What do you say to people who let you down? It's hard to resist the temptation to needle them a little, to remind them of what a disappointment they are in the moment. We often do this without thinking, because our tongues get sharper and we tell people that we expected better.
Jesus is about to be killed, and he asks the disciples to stay up and pray with him, and to show their dedication and devotion to him... they instantly fall asleep. It's a pivotal night in Jesus' life and he needs them to be a community for him... and yet they completely fail. Three times.
Jesus could have said all sorts of things, and yet he says the kindest thing possible. He finds something nice to say about them in the moment -- that their spirits are willing, but the flesh is weak. He looks for the bright spot in this, and highlights their willingness to be with him, and blames their bodies for not keeping up with him. Jesus didn't have to say this, but he chose to be kind and look for something good to say.
May we do likewise when others reveal their flaws to us.
No comments:
Post a Comment