Invitation to Pay Attention

A Reflection for Wednesday, April 9 by Rev. Beth Knight, MAPC

Lectionary reading for 04/09/2025: Psalm 29; Habakkuk 3:2-15; Luke 18:31-34 

Selected passage for reflection: Luke 18:31-34 

Read        

Luke 18:31-34 (1599 Geneva Bible)

31 Then Jesus took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things shall be fulfilled to the Son of man, that are written by the Prophets. 

32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and shall be spiteful entreated, and shall be spitted on. 

33 And when they have scourged him, they will put him to death: but the third day he shall rise again. 

34 But they understood none of these things, and this saying was hid from them, neither perceived they the things which were spoken.

Reflect

Do you ever wonder why the twelve disciples did not understand what Jesus was saying? Perhaps they were “flooded” (a psychological term for being overwhelmed by too much). Perhaps they were in disbelief that what he spoke of would really happen. Maybe their limited perceptions were the brain’s way of protecting them from grief. We see this often when we are present to others facing death of a beloved: they just don’t grasp that it’s upon them. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, pioneer in the study of death and dying, named this stage of grief as denial. It wasn’t too soon for the disciples to be grieving. We know now that walking alongside another who won’t be with us long is known as “anticipatory grief”. So as bewildering as it might feel to us, from our lens in history, to look back and wonder at the twelve, we can also have much compassion for them.

Regardless of why the twelve did not perceive what Jesus said to them for the third time, there is also this for us to ponder: that this passage was the third time Jesus spoke of what was to come. Not only does Luke tell us about this, so does Matthew 20:17-19. Reference to three (third) is something found hundreds of times in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Jewish world and ancient contexts, three is a symbol of completeness. Even as early as Jesus’ birth, three is represented by the three gifts of the Magi. The three stages in Jesus’ ministry are his birth, life and resurrection. In the Garden of Gethsemane, before Jesus’ arrest, he prayed and three times asked his disciples to stay awake. Peter’s denial of Christ three times before the rooster crowed is another example we sadly remember.  At the crucifixion are three crosses. Jesus rose from the dead on the third day. The Holy Trinity of our faith is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit; which Jesus instructed be the naming used when baptizing as stated in Matthew 28:19. The Transfiguration of Jesus was witnessed by Peter, James and John. Three Patriarchs of the Old Testament are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Further back in Genesis we know the account of creation where God created the heavens, earth and all living things. With so many symbols of completeness we can see that Jesus in this “third” instance of telling of the future was leaving a remarkable and poignant message for not just the disciples but for us as well. Seeing these frequent patterns in the Bible emphasizes for us to pay attention. 

To what and to whom should we pay attention? We are invited to pay attention to all the “threes” of scripture and especially to how Jesus fulfilled prophecy and completed the gift of liberation for us. Lent is a time to deeply pay attention and especially to this scripture today as it reminds us of the poignancy of completion. And, since we still are on this earthly plane in the suspended time of the not yet, we live forward because of our faith and hope of resurrection as well. Additionally, we are given three gifts of the Spirit as we stay grounded in the foundation of Christian living: Faith, Hope and Love (Corinthians 13). May those profound “three” companions undergird us.

Respond 

Imagine Christ sitting near you as you pray. Allow yourself to confide three things in your heart and mind during this Lent season.

Rest 

Continue intentionally and prayerfully staying with the invitation to imagine Christ sitting near you. Next, whisper: “Thank you for faith, hope and love”. 

About the Author 

Beth Knight is an ordained pastoral counselor and spiritual director. She also writes collects, Celtic caims, blessings and poetry. A former Alaskan, Beth now lives in Florida. When not serving in ministry, Beth loves spending time with three grandchildren, walking labyrinths, and is very involved with a global contemplative women’s online community.