Holy Wednesday Prayer

The crowds are all gone now.
Not only the ones who sang or whispered or however they said, "Hosannas".
The crowds from sporting events, art openings, symphonies, and even churches.
The crowds that would hustle and bustle down the street, talking into phones, and check emails.
The crowds that gathered in cafes over dry toast to discuss the latest news.
The crowds of even two or three that felt safe.

The crowds were gone by Wednesday of Holy Week.

Oh, they were still in Jerusalem.  Hurrying to prepare for Passover.
Buying goods so they could hunker down in homes with family to tell the story of God's liberating love.
Shouting greetings and acting like this was just another Passover.

But for Jesus, the crowds were all gone.  No longer listening to his teachings.
No longer following him around.
No longer waiting to see when he might call from a rebellion.

Sure, his disciples ~ his friends ~ were still there.
But soon they would no longer hang around either.
One would betray.
One would deny.
The rest would desert him.

Alone.
Isolated.
Leaning on a rock, praying for a cup to pass by.
A prayer that echoed the "Hosannas" from Sunday.
Only now, Jesus prayed for God to save him.

What to make of that prayer?
It is heartfelt, honest, raw to be sure.
It is echoed in our own prayers.
But it is disruptive, especially if we have an image of Jesus constantly in control.

In the gardens of life were we all dwell, we all pray for ways to know we are not alone.
In the gardens of life, not with manicured roses, but with painful thorns that wound.
In the gardens of life, were, like Adam and Eve, we long for knowledge just as much as we crave intimacy with God.

Alone.
Isolated.
Leaning on a rock, praying for a return to what we once called, "Life" even with all it's blessed imperfections.

The prayer of Palm Sunday...the prayer Jesus prayed as he pressed into the stone cold rock in the garden...the prayer we still pray is,
"God help us for we cannot help ourselves."

May you and I find discover ways God surrounds us even as pain/difficulties/illness persists in these days.
Amen.