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Jesus’ Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mt. 26:36-46)

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”  37 He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to feel sorrow and distress.  38 Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me.”  39 He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.”  40 When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour?  41 Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  42 Withdrawing a second time, he prayed again, “My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass without my drinking it, your will be done!”  43 Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open.  44 He left them and withdrew again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing again.  45 Then he returned to his disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand when the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners.  46 Get up, let us go. Look, my betrayer is at hand.”

Jesus arrived at the Garden of Gethsemane with his disciples and instructed them to sit while he went off to pray.  He took Peter, James, and John (Mk. 14:33) with him and in his humanity began to feel sorrow and distress because of the gravity of what was about to happen to him.  He reveals the depth of his sorrow to his three closest disciples and asks them to stay and keep watch with him.  Going further into the Garden Jesus petitions the Father to let the bitter cup of suffering and death pass him by.  His human nature instinctively pulled back from the suffering and death he was about to face, but through obedience and trust, he submitted to the Father’s plan for mankind’s redemption and salvation (Mt. 6:10b).  He returned and found Peter and the disciples asleep.  He asked Peter why he could not stay awake and keep watch with him.  Despite their best intentions, the disciples were overcome by physical tiredness.  Jesus warned them to stay alert and pray especially during times of trial because of the frailty of human nature (the flesh) which is susceptible to temptation.  Jesus withdrew twice more praying to the Father in the same way and twice more he accepted his Father’s will but was disappointed to find the disciples asleep.  He woke the disciples and told them the time for his betrayal and arrest had arrived.  The hour for which he came into the world had arrived.  

Almighty God, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Your Son, Jesus Christ, faced anguish and sorrow.  Grant us the strength to watch and pray with him, and the courage to submit to Your will, even at times of great trial. Help us to find solace in His example and draw support from You through our prayers.  This we pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen!

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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
                Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.

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