Matthew 26:40-46: a reflection

40He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What, couldn’t you watch with me for one hour? 41Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42Again, a second time he went away and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup can’t pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be done.” 43He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words. 45Then he came to his disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Arise, let’s be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand.”

As Jesus prays in agony in Gethsemane, he returns to find his disciples asleep. Could you not watch with me one hour? he asks Peter, and gives him a word of counsel: Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. The disciples meant well; their spirits were willing. But their flesh was weak, and they slept when they should have watched. Jesus' remedy is watchful prayer, the guard against the weakness of the flesh.

Notice Jesus' diagnosis and his remedy. The diagnosis: the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. The disciples' intentions were good; Peter had even vowed to die with Jesus. But good intentions were not enough, for the flesh is weak, and could not carry out what the willing spirit intended; they slept. And the remedy Jesus gives is watchful prayer: watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. Watchfulness and prayer are the guard against the weakness of the flesh, which good intentions alone cannot overcome.

That diagnosis and remedy are for us too, for we know the gap between our willing spirit and our weak flesh. We mean well, intend to do right, resolve to be faithful; but our flesh is weak, and good intentions alone do not carry us through. What Jesus prescribes is watchful prayer: to watch and pray, that we may not enter into temptation. Do not rely on your good intentions alone to keep you from falling; the spirit may be willing, but the flesh is weak. Watch and pray, as Jesus counseled, guarding against temptation through watchful prayer, rather than trusting your willing spirit while your weak flesh sleeps. The disciples' good intentions did not keep them watchful; only watchful prayer guards against the weakness of the flesh. Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation, rather than being caught, like the disciples, sleeping when you should have watched.

Lord Jesus, when you returned from praying to find your disciples asleep, you asked, could you not watch with me one hour, and counseled, watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. That diagnosis and remedy are for me too, for I know the gap between my willing spirit and my weak flesh. I mean well, intend to do right, resolve to be faithful; but my flesh is weak, and good intentions alone do not carry me through. What you prescribe is watchful prayer: to watch and pray, that I may not enter into temptation. Keep me from relying on my good intentions alone to keep me from falling; my spirit may be willing, but my flesh is weak. Help me watch and pray, as you counseled, guarding against temptation through watchful prayer, rather than trusting my willing spirit while my weak flesh sleeps. The disciples' good intentions did not keep them watchful; only watchful prayer guards against the weakness of the flesh. Help me watch and pray, that I may not enter into temptation, Lord, rather than being caught, like the disciples, sleeping when I should have watched.