Time of Wait

Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder (Mt.26, 36)

It is hard to be idle at the time of action. In the garden of Gethsemane, eight out of eleven Disciples, were destined to be idle. Jesus went forth to pray. Peter, James and John remained half-way, as if on guard. The others, behind, were waiting… they were in the garden… that’s it.

That was defying time, time of anxious expectation, but they were not allowed to do anything. Every one of us, most likely, has experienced this feeling of disappointment, where we have to be idle, while others, next to us, received a certain assignment. Sickness and poverty might be our obstacles, but nevertheless we are not uptight by the circumstances, and we are bitter and disappointed.

But be in peace, my soul, this does not mean that you have no part in the common deed. Do you really think that the Lord has a place only for those, who act and labor? No, He also accepts those, who have to remain idle.

Remember what Christ Himself said: “Set ye here”; your place in the garden of Gethsemane is also sanctified by these words. It has its own meaning. This is not the place of struggle, neither a place of vigil, but this is a place of expectation.

There are people, who are not destined to great zeals and carry heavy burdens, but exist on earth is silence and tranquility. Those are the flowers, which remain unnoticed in the garden and do not have a special purpose. But they are not skipped by the eyes of the Savior, they bring consolation to Him by the aroma they spread, by their beauty. He needs them too. Do not despair if you belong to this kind of modest plants.