Holy Thursday / Maundy Thursday – Vigil – Night Watch – Catholic Church of St. Laurentius in Reichenburg

The Dark Night of the Soul - Betrayal

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a garden on the Mount of Olives called Gethsemane. There he asked them, "Sit here and wait for me! I want to go a little farther and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee – James and John – with him. Fear and deep sadness overcame Jesus, and he said to them, "I am almost breaking under the weight I have to bear. Stay here and watch with me!" Jesus went a few steps further, threw himself down, and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me and spare me this suffering! Yet not what I will, but what you will, be done."

Then he returned to the three disciples and saw that they had fallen asleep. He woke Peter and called out, "Could you not have watched with me for even one hour? Stay awake and pray so that you may be able to resist temptation." I know you want the best, but you can't achieve it on your own."

Once again he went a little way to pray: "My Father, if I cannot be spared this bitter cup, I am ready to do your will!" When he returned, the disciples were already asleep again; their eyes had closed.

He left them asleep, returned, and prayed a third time, using the same words. Then he returned to his disciples and said: "Are you still sleeping and resting? Now the time has come, the hour has come: the Son of Man is being handed over to the ungodly. Get up, let us go! The traitor is already here."