The First Station of the Cross: Praying for God's Will

Courtesy: Vatican Museum

"Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." - Matthew 26:36-41 (NIV)

(Editor's note: This is part of a series on the Stations of the Cross.)

In the Garden of Gethsemane, which is located at the foot of the Mount of Olives just east of Jerusalem, Jesus met with his disciples for the last time. He knew what was coming up, that He would soon endure a death He did not deserve.

In the celebration of the Stations of the Cross by Pope John Paul II in 1991, the minister prayed this prayer:

"Lord, grant us your strength and wisdom, that we may seek to follow your will in all things."

God knows life can be hard. Jesus, though He could get out of sacrificing Himself on the cross because He was God Himself, didn't, instead relied on God the Father for the strength to persevere. He asked for the Father to take "this cup" from Him, but He also relented.

"Yet not as I will, but as you will." - Matthew 26:41 (NIV)

He asks that of us as well. He knows there are temptations in the world. He knows there are hardships that we all face. But through it all, He says for all of us to follow Him, and to rely on God for that strength and for answers.