Today's reading informs us that Jesus offered prayers and petitions to God with fervent cries and tears throughout his life.
We also learn that Jesus' prayers were heard by God, not because he was God's Son, but because of his reverent submission and obedience to God. This realisation should be so encouraging to us as Christians
today. Just as Jesus had a direct line to God, so do we also have direct access to God through the Spirit of the High Priest who lives within us, Jesus Christ.
We have no greater honour and privilege as Christians than to pray. Even when the world is falling apart around us, and we don't know what to do, we can pray. Even when we do not have the words to say anything at all, the Spirit intercedes on our behalf.
Yet prayer is still one of the most neglected spiritual practices in the world today. Perhaps this is because we have a false idea that we have to say the perfect words or set aside the same amount of time every day to speak to God.
Prayer is an ongoing conversation. We can do it as often as possible whenever and wherever we like. We can use words that are familiar to us (even the
not-so-holy ones). We can cry out to God with our fears, hopes and dreams, just as Jesus did.
If we live in reverent submission and obedience to God, we can hope that God will hear our prayers, just as he heard those offered by Jesus.
But let us remember that a conversation is a two-way street. For a conversation (and prayer) to be effective, we neeAs we approach Holy Week
this year, we contemplate Mark’s account of Jesus’ Passion.
Let us consider this passage in the light of the two ‘worlds’ confronting each other at that time as in our present day and how people behave quite differently in these two worlds. Jesus had come to usher in the Kingdom of God in this world and to do away with Satan’s kingdom. He invited those he came across, especially his disciples, to understand and begin to live
their lives according to God’s ways, forsaking the destructive ways of the world. To turn away from Satan and sin and to believe the Good News of God’s love and salvation.
Judas had been given the same invitation and had the same opportunities to do this as the rest of the disciples. He had spent the same time as they had with Jesus, heard his teaching, and witnessed his miracles. We presume that he had even participated in the
disciples' first ‘mission’ and taught about the Kingdom, healed the sick and even cast out demons together with the other disciples. Yet, he had not turned away from this world and sin. He seemed to still be attached to the evil intrigues, power, hunger and riches of this world, so he could easily swing against his friends and the Master and betray him into the hands of his enemies.
Sadly, we easily notice what Judas does and judge him
without realising our own perilous ways and tendencies to betray our Lord and our brothers and sisters. Judas’ heart, sentiments, and actions were clearly still firmly grounded in the old kingdom, and he was still ‘playing’ life by the old destructive rules of deception, betrayal, power, and money. These ways were damaging and hurtful to himself, others, and his Lord.
These realities of our choices between God’s Kingdom ways and
the ways of the sinful, mistaken world still play out, mostly quietly, unobtrusively, and subtly, in our own lives today.
So, let us carefully consider how we might still betray our Lord in our thoughts, words, and actions today. What in our lives still says silently or screams loudly, “I don’t really believe that God’s way will work”, “I don’t agree with what I see God doing; I have a smarter plan”, “I don’t trust God, I will take
care of myself”? How do I work against others/friends/leaders in my church or community, betraying them or selling them out for my own benefit?
How can I give God greater glory in life? How can I stand up for Jesus more visibly? How can I treat others – especially fellow believers – with more respect and dignity? d to take time to listen to what God is saying to us in response to our words. This is usually done best in silence,
but sometimes, we hear God's responses to us in Scripture, music, or conversations with others.
What do you want to say to God today and will you give God the time and space to talk to you?
Reflections by Reggie Venter
