Garden Prayer

Gauguin

He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.’ Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.’ [[ Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.]] When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, and he said to them, ‘Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.’

While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; but Jesus said to him, ‘Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?’ When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, ‘Lord, should we strike with the sword?’ Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, ‘No more of this!’ And he touched his ear and healed him. Luke 22:39-51

We often pray in anguish and heartache. We humans forget God when things are good and scream out loud about supposed abandonment. We credit all the good things to ourselves and all the bad things to our Creator. Yet, when we are in true relationship, whether with God or with one another, we talk all the time, appreciate the big and small things, communicating all our joys and our sorrows. We want the people whom we love to talk with us about all of their moments.

Jesus spills his heart out in the garden. What is ahead is terrifying. He has daily and profoundly expressed himself with God. While his disciples slept after a huge meal, he poured his heart out. And by it, he was strengthened for what came next. His prayer, overheard by someone, has made an impression on us all. God invites us to know we are loved and pour our hearts out daily so that we too might be strengthened for the road ahead.

Today, I ask God to help me pray without ceasing. May we live a life of prayer, so that all that comes our way is no match for God's love which is sealed on our hearts and souls.