Station I: Jesus in Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane

The Garden of Gethsemane

Every once in a while we are put into the place of great dilemma. In my own life it has surrounded jobs to which to apply, choice of schools for kids, even what words for what prayers. In themselves they are big things to me, to others perhaps smaller. 

That whole sense of not knowing quite which way to turn, but all the while knowing that something has to happen is oddly dis-empowering. It brings with that sense of ones hand being forced, of helplessness. 

And so, at this first Station, this whole crushing dilemma. Jesus is human, knows something of the unspeakable atrocities that will be wrought on his finite body. I avoid pain wherever possible, and so do you. Jesus had the capacity, I am sure, to call the whole thing off. That would have been easier at one level, harder at another. Even the most noble and courageous person would struggle to place their arm in the meat-grinder, even sure in the knowledge that it was for the good of others. I doubt that the Romans had invented crucifixion for Jesus, and so he would have seen this means of execution with his own eyes. His physical being repels the idea, his spiritual knowing that it must be done. 

"Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want" [Mk 14: 36]

My prayer at this Station is for all those people who are crushed by the agony of dilemma, for those whose choices are choiceless, that whichever way the choice goes, people will know pain. 

Lord Jesus, you entered the garden of fear

and faced the agony of your impending death:

be with those who share that agony

and face death unwillingly this day.

You shared our fear and knew the weakness of our humanity:

give strength and hope to the dispirited and despairing.

To you, Jesus, who sweated blood,

be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit,

now and for ever. Amen

These Stations and the prayers that accompany them are taken from CW times and Seasons. The reflections and petitions are my own.