With this talk, we move to the Third Week of the Spiritual Exercises. Jesus’ public ministry threatened the power of the religious authorities, and they now move to suppress the threat. It is easy to accompany Jesus in the good times, but it’s much tougher to accompany him in hard times. We do it because he is our friend. David proposes three places for prayer: the table where Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, the Garden of Gethsemane where he prayed in agony, and the jail cell where he spent a long, lonely night.

Verse: I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. (John 15:15)

Spiritual Exercise: Third Week

Suggested Scripture: John 13:1-30, Luke 22:39-46

Questions for reflection:

• Who are those people in my life who I find tough to love? How can I imitate Jesus in loving them unconditionally?
• Am I showing fortitude and courage in my life? Do I opt for the easy way too often?
• If you sit in the jail cell with Jesus, what do you do? What do you say?