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21 Mar 2018

Watching and Temptation

Et venit ad discipulos suos, et invenit eos dormientes. Et dixit Petro: Sic non potuistis una hora vigilare mecum? Vigilate, et orate, ne intretis in tentationem. 

Quandiu quidem adfuit Jesus discipulis suis, non dormierunt; pusillum autem progrediente eo ab eis, nec una hora potuerunt vigilare eo absente. Propter quod oremus ut nec modicum aliquando Jesus progrediatur a nobis, sed impicat quod promisit in nobis, dicens: Ecce ego vobiscum ero omnibus diebus, usque ad consummationem saeculi. Sic enim vigilabimus eo excutiente somnum ab anima nostra, sine quo possibile non est implere mandatum quod dicit: Nec des somnum oculis tuis, aut palpebris tuis dormitationem, ut evadas sicut damula ex retibus et sicut avis ex laqueo.  Tamen veniens ad discipulos, et inveniens dormientes, suscitat eos verbo ad audiendum, ut jam quasi audientibus dicat quod dicet sic: Non potuistis una hora vigilare mecum? Praecipit autem vigilare, ut vigilantes oremus. Vigilat autem qui facit opera bona; vigilat qui sollicite agit de fidei veritate, ne in aliquod tenebrosum dogma incurrat. Qui enim sic vigilans orat, illius exauditur oratio. Hoc enim significat dicens: Vigilate et orate; ut primum vigilemus et sic vigilantes oremus. Ut ne intretis in tentationem. 
  
Origenes, In Matthaeum, Tomus XVII, 

'And He came to his disciples and He discovered them sleeping. And He said to Peter, 'So you were not able to watch one hour with me? Watch and pray that you do not enter into temptation.' 1

While Jesus was with His disciples they did not sleep, but going a little way from them, with Him absent, they were not able to watch for one hour. On account of which let us pray that not at any time Jesus go from us even a little, but let him fulfill what He promised us, saying, ' Behold, I am with you for all days, even to the consummation of the world.' 2 So we shall watch by casting off sleep from our souls, without which it is not possible to fulfill the commandment which He gave saying, 'Do not give sleep to your eyes, or take to your rest, so that you may escape like a from the nets and like a bird from the trap' 3 However coming to the disciples, and finding them asleep, He rouses them with a word to be heard, and as if they were already listening, He speaks to them saying, 'You were not able to watch one hour with me?' He commands that we be vigilant and watching pray. He watches who does good deeds, he watches who has care for the truth of faith, lest into some teaching of darkness we rush. He who is watchful prays and his prayer is heard. Watch and pray, that first we are vigilant and and being vigilant we pray. Lest we enter into temptation.

Origen, Commentary On Matthew, Book 17


1 Mt 26. 40
2Mt 28.20
3 Prov 6.4-5
4 Job 7.1
5 Prov 13.21 

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