Then going out, he went, as was his custom, to the Mount of
Olives,
and the disciples followed him.
When he arrived at the place he said to them,
When he arrived at the place he said to them,
“Pray that you may not undergo the
test.”
After withdrawing about a stone’s throw from them, and kneeling, he prayed, saying,
“Father, if you are willing,
take this cup away from me;
Still, not my will but yours be done.”
After withdrawing about a stone’s throw from them, and kneeling, he prayed, saying,
“Father, if you are willing,
take this cup away from me;
Still, not my will but yours be done.”
Luke 22:39-42
As people of faith and people with Gospel values, there is
a particular perspective and way of looking at things that can make us
different from some of the anticipating, fearing, and celebrating that goes on
around us. As we rejoice and give thanks to God for the gift of Salvation and
our personal knowledge of the Lord Jesus, we also ask, “What is it, Lord, that
you are calling me to at this time in my life and at this time in the history
of the world?”
In the Love of Jesus
Father Lenny Zamborsky
November 28, 1999
November 28, 1999
For Reflection:
“Not my will but yours
be done.” Not an easy prayer to say – and mean it. Even Jesus begged his Father
to spare him from the suffering he was born to endure, for the love of us. I am
sure that, in that moment of fear and dread, the love he always felt flowing
through his very being, uniting him to his Father, completely filled both
Father and Son with great agony.
I pray that, if I cannot take away a sister’s
or brother’s suffering, that I will freely share another’s pain prayerfully and
in unity.
Sharing in anothers agony is often as simple as being present and listening. A quality that is often difficult to cultivate. We want to say something or do something to fix things........."could you not stay awake with me even for an hour?".........
ReplyDeleteI think maybe Jesus went to the garden to become familiar with agony - in preparation for death. He sat with the pain and fear of what was to come, and endured it. So death was no longer something to avoid, but became something to accept and embrace. He tried to encourage the disciples who were with him to do the same, but He could see they weren't ready yet. They were willing - but not ready. It isn't easy to face agony and still see the beauty of a garden. Sleeping is much more pleasant.
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