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Transcript

Garden of Gethsemane

After withdrawing about a stone’s throw from them and kneeling, he prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.” Luke 22:41-42
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The dinner with friends 
heavy in his gut 
he heads to the hills,
the grip on his stick
turns his knuckles white.

A constriction in his brain 
arrests him in the garden
each breath tightens his chest 
drops of blood on his forehead
he sinks to his knees.

To his right, Bethany,
a safe haven, and
beyond, the desert. 
To his left, Jerusalem, 
where all the prophets died. 

He prays, “Take this away.”
A memory comes 
of what the old rabbis say,
“The entire world is a narrow bridge,
the essential of life is not to fear.”

His before-the-ages-faith 
ratchets his spine.
He rouses the sleeping disciples, 
“Get up. Let’s go. 
The hour has come.” 

The images used in this presentation are statues at Gethsemane Abbey, KY where I was on retreat this week.

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