Two elements in this passage stand out, both somewhat uncomfortable:  obedience and suffering.

This week, I invite you to spend some time reflecting prayerfully on obedience and suffering in your life.

Suffering first:  Recall the image of Jesus “offering prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears.”  Then ask the Holy Spirit to call to your mind a particular experience of suffering that you need to bring to prayer.  Perhaps it will be an old one that still is somehow unresolved; perhaps it will be something you are experiencing right now.

Recalling again the image of Jesus praying “with loud cries and tears,” search within yourself for any feelings connected to the experience that need to be acknowledged and expressed, asking the Spirit’s help.

A simple technique of visualization combined with gesture may be useful.  Begin by being aware of the words and concepts  and images of your prayer in your mind.  Rest your fingertips on your forehead and temples as you allow your mind to fill with this prayer.

After a time, deliberately visualize moving the prayer down into your heart. and place your hands on your chest over your heart.  Feel your prayer taking place in your heart, and continue as long as seems right.

When the time seems right to do so, move your prayer down into your gut, and place your hands on your belly, below your navel.  Hold your prayer in your belly, and let whatever comes up come up—perhaps words or images, perhaps feelings, perhaps groans or cries.

If you find it helpful, move through this cycle (slowly!) again, beginning with your mind (fingertips on temple and forehead), then moving down to your heart (hands on chest), and then to your gut (hands on belly).

Stay with this prayer as long as anything continues to rise up or flow within you, and until it has all been expressed somehow.

Then comes obedience—from the Latin ob + audire, to listen deeply.

Listen deeply to yourself, and listen deeply to God.  What is to be learned from this suffering?  What is to be done?  What is God offering you?

Answers may not come right away, and chances are you won’t get the “big picture” answer, but only a single step you could take.

That’s okay.  Keep listening.