“Sorrow don fill My soul reach the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.” He go front small, lie face down for ground dey pray, say, “My Father, if e possible, make this cup pass from Me; but no be as I want, na as You want.” Matthew 26:38-39
He dey such heavy pain and sorrow, and He pray with all His heart so tey His sweat come be like drops of blood wey dey fall for ground. Luke 22:44
The only thing wey pass the heavy pain and sorrow wey Jesus go through as He dey pray for the Garden of Gethsemane na the cruel treatment and Crucifixion wey He endure the next day. That Thursday night, after He don share the gift of His Body and Blood with the Apostles, He go out to pray. As He dey pray, He lie face down for ground before the Father for Heaven and accept the “cup” wey dem give Am to drink. Three times He pray this prayer wey get deep meaning: “My Father, if e possible, make this cup pass from Me; but no be as I want, na as You want.”
That night for be night wey our Blessed Mama no sleep at all. Dem wake her for middle of night with the frightening news say dem don arrest Jesus. She hurry go the place where dem dey question Jesus before Caiaphas and the whole Sanhedrin, and she stand for distance with the other holy women dey watch.
Jesus don suffer deep pain for the Garden, and three times He choose wetin the Father want. During the wahala of that night, Saint Peter deny Jesus three times. As our Blessed Mama stay there quietly throughout that night, she join her mind and heart to the deep pain of her Son and to the way He freely accept His Cross.
This na His Hour. This na The Hour when Jesus go give the greatest glory to the Father for Heaven. And na also our Blessed Mama own hour. God invite her to freely offer her Son into the hands of wicked men. As this hour dey near, Saint Peter and the other Apostles no show the faithfulness and commitment wey dem suppose show. But our Blessed Mama, wey be her Son first and greatest disciple, join Jesus to submit completely to wetin the Father want.
For Good Friday, as Mama Mary stand before her Son Cross, she for still dey pray the way Jesus pray for the Garden the night before. “Father…no be as I want, but as You want.” This prayer must also become the main prayer for our own lives every single day.
Today, think deeply about the wahala and confusion wey start that night when dem arrest Jesus. Think deeply too about the times of wahala and confusion for your own life. When you feel the weight of the different crosses for your life, na only one way dey to accept them well. You must join yourself to the prayer wey Jesus pray for the Garden, wey also be the perfect prayer of our Blessed Mama. Join them for this prayer of complete submission.
Mama Mary wey I love so much, you watch with sorrow as dem arrest your Son and treat Am with plenty wickedness. Still, your only prayer na the prayer wey your Son pray for the Garden. “Father, no be as I want, but as You want.” Jesus deep pain na your deep pain, and His submission na your submission.
Pray for me, dear Mama, make I fit join you and your Son for prayer as I dey suffer deep pain for this life. As I dey face the wickedness of this world, pray for me make I too fit choose wetin the Father want for everything every day, make I no ever lose hope, and make I no ever waver as I submit myself completely.
My Lord wey dey suffer, I choose to stay awake with You and remain faithful to You always. Give me the grace wey I need to live as person wey submit completely to wetin the Father want and to Your most holy will.
Mother Mary, pray for me. Jesus, na You I trust.
Next: Day Twenty – How the Lamb of God No Get Any Guilt
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