Agony In the Garden
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Jesus is an eternal person and the Rosary has a special power to put us in contact with Jesus in the events of His life.
The Agony in the Garden Matthew 26
Then Jesus came with them to a small estate called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Stay here while I go over there and pray.’ He then took Peter, James and John with him.
Gethsemane was a small estate, at the foot of the Mt of Olives, just on the outskirts of Jerusalem to the east. It was comprised of an olive grove and a cave in which there was an olive press and a cistern for the oil. This cave is where Jesus commanded eight of the Apostles to watch and pray while he took with him Peter James and John a very short distance away to the olive grove.
I have been there many times to pray.
“And sadness came over him, and great distress. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is sorrowful to the point of death. Wait here and keep awake with me.’
Jesus, who is both fully God and fully human experiences the agony of distress, sorrow and fear. Such tremendous fear that is causes him to sweat blood.
There is a church built over the place where Jesus prostrate himself on the ground, the rock of agony. Above this rock there is a large mosaic. It depicts Jesus totally crushed by the weight of the sin world, by his fear and by his sadness.
Are you ever totally overwhelmed and crushed by life, by the weight of your sins, your past decisions that seem to have led you to a dead end where there is no hope, no end to your problems or pain?
Jesus is there. He went there before you. He remains there for you. You are not alone. You are safe.
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Mark 14:35
Jesus fell down on the ground and prayed…’Father, all things are possible to you; remove this cup from me; yet not my will but your will be done.’
When we are overwhelmed by life and are knocked down by the weight of our decisions, our sins, our responsibilities, or some sicknesses and pain or loss, there is a great temptation to forget who we are. This is when the darkness of the Tempter comes who tells us “There is no hope, you have wrecked everything. This will only get worse. God will not help you because this is your fault.”
It is so easy to despair when we think we have ruined everything.
Jesus responds to the terror, to the weight that is upon Him with a cry, “Abba, Father…”
Jesus remembers who He is, His true identity – He is the Son of the Father. Yes, it was his decisions that led Him to this point where many seek to take his life, most have rejected him and all have misunderstood him. Yet, this does not change who He is. He is the Son. In fact, nothing can change who He is. Nothing can alter His true identity and worth. He is the Son of the Father.
You too are a son of the Father, a daughter of the Father. Nothing can take away your true identity and worth – not even your sin if you turn back to the Father.
Do you know who you are? The whole world can dissolve before you and yet you will be a son of God, heir to the Kingdom that lasts forever. You are indestructible – nothing can destroy a son of the Father.
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“Abba Father, All things are possible to you.”
Nothing can happen except what God wills or allows. Nothing can happen to you that is beyond the loving knowledge and power of God. And God works all things for good for those who love him.
At the top of this mosaic depicting Jesus totally crushed there is a hand, the hand of God the Father. And issuing forth from this hand is the chalice carried by an angel to Jesus.
This is both the cup of suffering and the chalice of consolation. God the Father allowed Jesus to suffer and die that he might be Resurrected and become the Savior of the world. Jesus knows this suffering is permitted by His Father, and if permitted by Him then Jesus will be safe – because the Father will work it in His favor.
“Abba, Father, All things are possible to you.”
The knowledge of God’s providence, that the Father is there, He sees everything, He understands everything we are going through, He is guiding what we are going through to the greatest good. This knowledge of God’s providence reassures us – we are safe. And this is why the chalice is that of suffering but also of consolation. We are safe.
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You are a son of God, you are a daughter of God.
No matter what you face or fear, God your Father has willed or allowed it. Everything is not out of control. God is in control. You are not at the mercy of your own stupid decisions, or the malice of others or the chaos of life.
You are in the all-powerful hands of God. He will work this thing, whatever it is, in your favor. And if He wants you to go through it, then it is for your transformation – so relax. You are safe.
Do you know that a caterpillar must literally liquify in its cocoon before it is transformed into a butterfly?
It may look and feel as if your whole life is dissolving, but you will not be destroyed.
God is guiding your transformation. Have faith. Trust Him. Surrender to Him. Let Him do what He wants to do to transform you.
Relax, don’t resist. You are safe.
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Knowing everything that was going to happen to him but knowing who he was, Son of the Father, Jesus says to his disciples, “Rise! Let us go.”
In the strength of his true identity – which nothing can take away – Jesus goes forth with power to meet Judas and the cohort of Roman soldiers which equaled 500 men.
“Jesus then came forward and said, 'Who are you looking for?' They answered, 'Jesus the Nazarene'. He said, 'I AM'….When Jesus said, 'I AM', pronouncing the divine name they drew back and fell to the ground.”
Jesus goes into the Garden overcome with fear and sorrow. He recalls his true identity and worth – Son of the Father – and He comes forth from the Garden transformed, free an powerful.
Jesus overcame His fear and sorrow by knowing who He is.
I place my identity in the wrong things – achievements that provide an illusion of relevance and worth. This is not my identity. I am made in the Image of God. I have been made His son by grace. Nothing can take this from me. There is no danger, there is nothing to fear. I am safe.