O God, please give me the ability to empathize with Jesus’s grief, as well as the suffering of others. Grant me strength and courage to follow his example.
Option 1:
Scripture: Mark 14:22-31
Reflection: Enter the scene. Jesus speaks of his death and how his friends will leave him at his most vulnerable moment. Cultivate empathy for Jesus. Ponder an incident in your own life or someone else’s who was abandoned at a critical time. Then transfer those feelings to this biblical scene.
Option 2:
Scripture: John 6:35-69
Reflection: Similar to themes in Mark 14, in this passage many disciples leave. Enter the story. How do you respond? What fears or discomfort do you have related to being a disciple?
Option 3:
Watch the movie Of Gods and Men based on a true story of Trappist monks in Algeria. Pay particular attention to the scene modeled after the Last Supper (toward the end of the movie). What emotions are portrayed? How does this movie help you to have compassion for Jesus’s fate while also helping you to reflect on what it means to die with Christ?
Option 4:
Repetition or reflection on any of the previous days this week.
Option 5:
Watch: Video on empathy (3 min)
Activity: Spend some extended time praying for someone you know is going through a hard time. Ask God how you might be present for this person in a concrete way (e.g. sending a card, making a meal, inviting them to hang out, giving a hug, etc).
Option 6:
Scripture: Mark 14:32-42
Reflection: Enter the scene with your senses. Empathize with Jesus’s experience in the garden of Gethsemane. Consider his humanity.
Activity: Think of someone in your community in need of emotional support right now. Reach out to that person as if you were reaching out to Jesus in Gethsemane. Keep in mind that often quiet presence and “keeping watch” is most needed and not “fix it” advice.
Reviewing the Week:
Look back on the past week. What stands out to you the most as you have prayed and reflected on the days before Jesus’s arrest? Talk with God about your reflections.