One argument for the reliability of the Scriptures is that it does not sugar-coat the lives of its main characters. These are real people, with real failings (except Jesus, of course.) Look at the "holy" books for all the false religions of the world, and their main characters do not have such failings.
The first section of today's Gospel reading (Luke 22:24-27) used to strike me as an event that could never happen. The disciples have just been fed with the body and blood of our Lord for the first time. They've received the forgiveness of sins. He's headed to the cross. A very serious time focused on Jesus. And the disciples decide it's the right time to argue about who is the greatest? How ridiculous! That would never happen that way.
Except that it does. I've seen it happen. Not too many minutes after the Divine Service with communion, people fill church halls with gossip - which makes the teller greater and the victim of the gossip lesser. And I've seen it in my own life, that already by Monday (especially yesterday) - if not Sunday afternoon - I'm tired of this serving business.
But our Lord never tires. The one who is greatest becomes the least, serving us by being numbered with the transgressors, obediently receiving the cup of suffering.
Oh, and also notice that it was His custom to go to the Mount of Olives to pray. Prayer should be our custom too. Off in a secluded spot when possible.
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