Stay Awake (Palm Sunday, 2014-04-13)

Sunday April 13, 2014 /    Palm Sunday  Title: Stay Awake

[__01__]   Stay awake. Three times we read that the disciples fall asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane in the Gospel Book of Matthew, chapter 26.   Our Savior had told Peter, James, and John and the Twelve,

“My soul is sorrowful even until death. Remain here and keep watch with me. ” (Matthew 26:38)

Then we read Jesus’s alarm and interruption of their dreams,

• “found them asleep” (Matthew 26:40)
• “once more he found them asleep” (Matthew 26:43)
• “are you still sleeping” (Matthew 26:45)

[__02__]    Starting our Holy Week, this Palm Sunday, we make an effort toward wakefulness, alertness … including our worship and liturgies here in Our Lady of Lourdes Church –

• Holy Thursday, Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:30 pm

• Good Friday, reading of the Passion at 3:00 pm and Good Friday evening Stations of the Cross at 7:30 pm

• Also on Good Friday, the Living Stations of the Cross will be presented at St. Joseph’s Church by our combined Lourdes/St. Joseph youth group, Friday at 7:30 pm.

• Our Saturday Easter Vigil at 7:30 pm invites us to keep watch as we welcome 3 newly initiated members of our church and parish … and we continue with Easter Sunday Mass at 7:30, 9:30, 11:30 am.

• REMINDER – there will be no Saturday 5:30 pm Mass next Saturday.

[__03__]   “Stay awake” is the  Lord’s call to us.  Can we respond?

Yes, we can respond… yet, this wakefulness and strength also requires us to REST, to RETREAT, to step away …

This journey into the Garden of Gethsemane for the disciples was such a retreat. Unfortunately, they were not sufficiently rested.

To undertake an serious or strenuous activity – mental or physical – requires rest.

Yet, do we not also require SPIRITUAL rest … spiritual retreat?

“Rest” or “retreat” is not merely relaxation or entertainment. It may include, but is not limited to, sleep.

This rest gives us the energy necessary to stay awake.

And, for 40 days of Lent, we have been endeavoring to gain this spiritual rest, this rest and peace in our hearts and souls.

(This is also a rest and practice that benefits us all year long).

[__04__]    We have been resting and retreating by our – PRAYER.

In prayer, we examine our lives in silence. We listen for God’s word and inspiration.  This coming Holy Thursday night, after Mass, we can sit before the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle to pray. 

This is a place of rest every day and also during our First Friday Nocturnal Adoration in the chapel.

Prayer gives us the time to open the door to God’s grace and courage to face difficult challenges and persevere in our steps on the walk and way walk of the cross.

[__05__]   We have been resting and retreating by our – FASTING …and by our sacrifice of material things

“Fasting” and/or abstaining from meat on Fridays of Lent are two traditional ways – regular ways – that we say NO to something that may seem inconsequential….

We learn to say NO to something small and material… so that we can learn to YES and NO in larger commitments.

And, we learn to focus on spiritual gifts of love, peace, joy…

we read in the letter to the Hebrews, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  (Hebrews 13:5)

Moreover, we simply stay more “awake” to what we have rather than trying to gain more.

Messages of pleasure and convenience are attractive and attention-grabbing… but do they really wake us up? Or put us to sleep?

By our practice of fasting, we are also resting from material convenience, and keeping our heads up on the way of the cross.

 [__06__]   We have been resting and retreating by our – ALMSGIVING or CHARITABLE GIVING.

In the Acts of the Apostles, we read this reminder to be generous as Jesus was in his ministry, and in handing over his life..

“In all things, I have shown you that by so toiling [or working] one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” (Acts 20:35)

Here in our parish family, we are grateful for the efforts of many to keep both our faith and faithful charitable works alive.   This is in our monthly food collection for St. John’s in Newark, our visits to our local soup kitchen, the generous contributions you make to our seminary, to Deacon Pedro Repollet’s formation here and to all of the deacons whom we have known here.  

You have given generously. These gifts help us all to stay aware and stay balanced on the way of the cross.

[__07__]    This Holy Week, we are also called to keep watch, to pray for God’s protection through our prayer, fasting, almsgiving, whether our yes or open or closed, day or night.

I invite you to reflect on this prayer, traditionally a night-time prayer, a reminder that we are always in the garden, always on retreat …and always – continuing our journey with our Savior –

“Protect us, Lord as we stay awake, watch over us as we sleep that awake we may keep watch with Christ and asleep, rest in his peace. AMEN.”  [__fin__]