The Will of God 

   “Then he withdrew from them, about a stone’s throw away, and knelt down and prayed.  ‘Father,’ he said, ‘if you are willing, take this cup away from me.  Nevertheless, let your will be done, not mine.’” (Luke 22: 41 – 42) 

   There are some passages of scripture that are so full of meaning that it takes time and meditation to fully appreciate what is being said to us.  For me, the verse above is one of those.

   I see two things that are very important to me as a Christian in these words of Jesus.  First, it’s OK to ask the Father to take away a tremendous hurt or fear.  Our Lord gives us the perfect example when He asks the Father to take the cup of His death and crucifixion from Him.  The humanity of our Lord dreaded the pain and suffering that was to come.

   If we are diagnosed with a serious illness or even a terminal disease that would end in a painful, suffering death, we should pray for a cure.  If our spouse or children are suffering in some way, we can ask for relief, both for them, and for the pain we suffer because of their suffering.  Think of our Blessed Mother as she watched her son being brutalized and crucified, dying on that cross.  I often wonder if she asked God for relief from such agony.  Jesus shows us in these few words that it is perfectly okay to seek such favors from God.

   However, we must never forget the second part of this scripture.  It’s fine to ask for relief from a terrible ordeal, but we must also be willing to accept the will of God regardless of the pain and sorrow it may bring.  We must trust in His wisdom and His love, with faith that all things from God will work out for the good, even when we can’t possibly understand how that could be.

   We are tested in our faith throughout our journey home, but some tests are far more difficult than others.  We must follow the example of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane; pray for relief but submit to the will of the Father.