As Christians begin their Lenten journey, a time of spiritual growth and self-discipline, now is an appropriate time to reflect on some of the key moments of Jesus's death. I want to begin my Lenten reflection series this year by looking at a scene commonly called The Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. (Catholics follow a three-year cycle of Gospel readings each Sunday, shifting from Matthew to Mark to Luke, with occasional passages from John. This year, in 2024, Catholics will hear Mark's version of Christ's Passion, so I'm going to focus on Mark.)
Jesus knows he is going to die. He not only knows that he is going to die, he also knows exactly how he will die. He says so in Mark 8:31, Mark 9:30-32, and Mark 10:32-34. (There are some days I'd really want to know when and how I die, just so I'm prepared for it.) He has just celebrated the Feast of Passover, what we call the Last Supper, where he instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Judas has left in order to betray him. Peter has promised he would not deny the Lord.
What does Jesus do shortly before he is betrayed, before he has to die? He prays. He speaks to his Father. "Very sorrowful, even to death," according to Mark 14:34, he prays. "Abba, Father, all things are possible to you; remove this chalice from me; yet not what I will, but what you will" (Mark 14:36). Notice here three things. One, Jesus acknowledges that his Father is all-powerful, and he has the ability to prevent Jesus from dying. Two, despite having perfect knowledge of the fact that he will rise again on that first Easter Sunday, he still asks that he not die. Three, he trusts God: Not what I will, but what you will. I have to imagine what was running through Jesus's mind in that moment, fear probably, but some sadness too, knowing that death is the consequence of humanity's fall in the Garden of Eden. I think though, that there must have been some intense anxiety and psychological pain as he prayed. I know, and you might too, that even if we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that everything will be alright in the end, we are still nervous of the pain that must come before the peace. Medical procedures are a good example. We know the procedure will heal us, but we also know that the procedure will be painful before the healing can begin.
So what lesson can we take away from Christ's agony? I think the answer is simple. It's the same one Jesus gave to Peter. "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Mark 14:38). Peter, always the one with the big mouth but poor at following through, falls asleep! He does not pray to God for the Lord. Peter does not witness Jesus's total trust in the Father's plan. Peter will later go on to deny who Jesus is, despite being one of his closest companions for three years. So what are we to do? Know that God is who he says he is, be honest about our fears with him, and finally embrace his will in an attitude of total surrender. Impossible? On our own, yes. With Jesus's grace, no.
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