At Gethsemene

Today is Good Friday. Jesus, the Nazarene, who robbed no one, cheated no one, who loved all, healed the sick and performed only acts of kindness, when accused guilty and became the victim of gross savagery, didn’t utter a word in self defense, but surrendered to His Father’s will and shed even the last drop of blood. The entire world is literally passing through the dark days of anxiety, pain and uncertainty. This is the time to look up to the cross and plead for His mercy. We know that after the Crucifixion and death, there is a victorious resurrection. Let this hope govern us in these days of wickedness when thousands suffer from cruelty, depression and disease. At Gethsemane- An unusual heaviness hung in the air. The wind didn’t stir, no single leaf fluttered. The dead weight of engulfing darkness pressed on. It was a fateful night, horrible and stark ! As a monument of misery, walked Jesus weary and distraught as never before, with staggering steps to the Mount of Olives, to the Garden of Gethsemane For him it was the darkest hour of the soul. He needed to be comforted by his Father. Oppressed by anguish, pinned down by the weight of the world’s sin, He groaned and moaned..... He wanted his disciples to keep vigil and pray. To his great annoyance he saw them sleeping. Failed repeatedly by disciples, callously deserted by followers He knew he had to drink the cup of pain all alone. He saw the demoniac hordes of hell surround him He bowed down to touch the ground in prayer His soggy eyes were lifted to Heaven again and again At that fierce hour, sweat pouted out as drops of blood! On the edge of a battle he knew he can’t escape, He prayed in all earnest, his soul writhing in agony ‘If it be possible, let this cup pass from me But not as I will, but thou wilt’ The fatal hour came for him to bear the cross. On his way to Calvary, many followed him, not to share his pain or lessen his burden but to enjoy this spectacle of disgrace and contempt While the whole of his body sagged on three nails, and his flesh, cut and peeled at every point He didn’t scream in agony, but remained calm and a prayer escaped his parted lips “Father forgive them, for they don’t know What they are doing” Is there any other on Earth who suffered the worst type of betrayal and the excruciating pain of crucifixion with such forgiveness and in such grace!