Promise

At the end of our Holy Thursday evening liturgy we process to a beautiful garden in remembrance of Jesus going to the garden of Gethsemane after the last supper.  This simulated garden is very peaceful with many beautiful flowers and plants.  There are water fountains trickling with water softly and many candles providing a soft glow of light.  This environment initially causes me to reflect on God’s incredible creation.  But then I begin to think about how Jesus was surrounded by a similar environment after the last supper and peacefulness was not at all what He was experiencing.

Three times Jesus asked the Father to take the cup away but each time He concluded "but your will be done." It causes me to consider the incredible torment He must have experienced knowing the pain and suffering He was soon to endure.  He was guilty of no wrong doing yet he was paying the high price of our sinfulness.

As I sat nearly in tears thinking about Jesus’ torment I began to think of a time in my life I pondered on the unthinkable.  It caused me to reminisce on what I consider one of the most painful times in my life.  Months after losing our twin sons at birth our two-year-old daughter was suffering with a rare disease. The thought of her predicted short mortality was unbearable to think about.  I knelt in the peaceful hospital chapel desperately praying to God for healing but concluding my prayer with "but thy will be done."

Years have passed since the deaths of our daughter and twin sons and I know holding onto God with all my strength was the only way to move on and find peace. I pray for those who experience the torment of loneliness, or the torment of incredible physical pain, or the loss of a loved one or any type of torment that seems beyond their ability to cope. I pray they are able to hold onto God with all their strength and accept His will for His peace is there for them.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.   Mt 5:4

As I continue to reflect on these three days of the Triduum I believe what best carries us through the challenges and torments of life is the same thing that carried Jesus through His passion.  Jesus had a free choice to obey the Father knowing the indescribable pain and suffering that was ahead and yet He chose the Father's will.  It is believing and knowing that God’s promise for our reunion with Him in Heaven will bring us eternal joy.

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” Jn 11:25-26

For this we celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection.  For this we live.  Let us Shine Like the Son and Live!  God bless you this Easter.