Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.’ And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.’ Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, ‘So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ Again he went away for the second time and prayed, ‘My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.’ Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.’ Matthew 26:36-46
I find it an enormous comfort to know Jesus and his struggles in the garden. This passage from Matthew's gospel indicates that Jesus was grieved and agitated. He was, like all of us, anxious and troubled, occasionally fearful and torn by all that he had to face. If we are honest, we too, are often anxious, troubled, fearful, grieved and agitated. We are truly human as Jesus was. The load he carried was bigger than our load, and yet he, like us, asked for the load to be lifted. We can draw near to Jesus, son of the living God, since all our troubles are near to his heart.
Tender Creator, you made us in your image
our emotions and artistry are of your hand
and we are full of both panic and desire.
We downplay our fears and terrors of our hearts
and fail to admit them or share them with you
thinking we have to solve everything alone.
Help us to be awake to our hearts' joys and sorrows
ready always to lift others and pray without ceasing
drawing your love near to our grieving world. Amen
