Were You There?
Picture 2: Sleeping Disciples [3]
Set-up
Light a candle at your prayer space and sit by it. Prepare some pen, paper, and some art materials. Have Picture 2 available for yourself.
Opening Prayer
Allow yourself to sit in the silence. Then invite the Holy Spirit with “Come, Holy Spirit,” and ask for the grace to wait on the Lord. Open with a prayer.
Reading I
Read the passage slowly from Matthew 26:36-46 in Annex C. Try to picture yourself in the scene. Pay attention to the words in red; these are the words of Jesus. Note that there are moments where you’ll be asked to pause and reflect. This pause will give you time for the words to sink in.
Reflection I
Return to Picture 2. Jesus returns to find his disciples fast asleep. Twice. The disciples also have laid down their swords which have left them defenseless.
What struck out to you in this picture? What do you think Jesus is feeling? Can you imagine what He might say to them?
Reading II
Once again, read the passage slowly from Matthew 26:36-46 in Annex C. Try to picture yourself in the scene with Picture 1 in mind. Pay attention to the words in red; these are the words of Jesus.
Reflection II
Return to Picture 2. Imagine yourself as Jesus. You are exhausted. You have wept so much after knowing that you are going to be betrayed. And yet your companions are asleep.
How do you feel? Are you frustrated? Were there times that you felt that someone close to you has let you down?
Hymn
After your reflection, listen to the following hymn whilst keeping Picture 2 in mind. Allow yourself to be ministered by it. If you’d like you may sing it prayerfully.
Were You There [4]
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Psalter Hymnal (Gray), 1987
Prayer Writing
After consolidating your reflection, write a short prayer of desire. A prayer of desire begins with “Jesus, I desire…”. In this prayer, you’re invited to write where you desire to be on this Triduum and what you desire from Him. Maybe you desire to be with Jesus when He carries His cross and more patience to carry your own cross in this time.
After you have written your prayer, fold it and place it at the foot of the cross at your prayer space. This symbolises uniting your desire with His as He waits in the silence of the night.
Thanksgiving & Closing Prayer.
After you have completed the activity, thank God for this time of prayer.
At the end of each option, cover up your altar space for Good Friday.
END. As the night draws to a close, Jesus is arrested and hauled to trial. The disciples said they were not going to leave His side. Where are you going to be? Let this be our question as we quickly approach Good Friday.
