Friday of the First Week in Lent

The Prayer of Jesus in the Garden.

I.

In his sadness, Jesus withdraws himself from his disciples to pray to God his Father to remove from his lips the bitter cup of his passion. He prays with reverence, prostrating himself before God. He prays with perseverance for several hours. He prays with resignation to the divine will of God his Father. He prays, and is not favorably heard, that we may learn to pray and be resigned.

II.

Jesus, so sweet and tender, did not desire to receive a consoling answer to his prayers that I might prevail in mine. He did obtain favor for himself, but secured it for me. I am heard favorably when I pray, but he was not. He could have commanded legions of angels to come to his assistance, but he did not invoke their presence, because he wished to die and shed his blood for my salvation. What love! What compassion! What mercy!

III.

Pray in your afflictions. Pray that God may remove them from you. Pray with humility. Pray with constancy and perseverance. Pray with resignation. Pray with conformity to the will of God. Weary not in prayer, and do not murmur if you are not heard, remembering that Jesus was not heard.

Resolution: Think of all those fears and the sadness which distresses you, and present them to Jesus with the following prayer.

Prayer: My Lord and my Savior, behold this chalice of confusion which thou hast presented to me to drink. Remove it far from my lips, for it is extremely bitter; nevertheless, not my will but thine be done. Father of mercies, behold a chalice of grief prepared for me! Father of the poor, behold a chalice of poverty, presented to me by thy divine providence! Must I drain it? Wilt thou not in pity remove it? I pray thee, O my God, to dispense me from this bitter drought; yet not my will but thine be done.

By a Member of the Society of Jesus, edited and amended by J. Scott Bailey, C.Ss.R.
© ASG