With a heavy heart, Lord, your will be done!

Dear Lord, last June 30, many of us prayed/lifted our heavy hearts to you. Before us were your words in Matthew 11:28-30:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

In our reflection, we imagined Jesus Christ himself in the garden, his heart also very heavy with sadness and other emotions in anticipation of Judas’ betrayal and the public clamor for the release of convicted criminal Barabbas, sadly in exchange for his crucifixion.

These highlighted verses in Matthew 26:36-46 vividly reminded us about the agony of Jesus in the Garden:

“Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane. And began to feel sorrow and distress. Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me.” He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.” Withdrawing a second time, he prayed again, “My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass without my drinking it, your will be done!” He left them and withdrew again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing again.”

Like his sincere supporters and followers, Jesus Christ himself must have deeply agonized and wondered how the crowd and officials glossed over his miracles, countless other good work and tidings.

Why did the cheering Palm Sunday crowd soon reject him, embrace lies, false information, and even Barabbas, the criminal?

Sorrowful, troubled and distressed, Jesus Christ asked God the Father, not just once but three times.

“My Father, if it is not possible, let this cup pass from me. Let this cup pass without my drinking it” and “again, (Jesus) prayed a third time, saying the same thing again.”

And this poignant/precious lesson for us all: always, Jesus ended his petition this way:

“Your will be done! Yet, not as I will, but as You will.”

Thank you very much, dear Jesus!

Finding you in these scriptural verses, your turning to God our Father in the midst of your own agony and letting go, allowing for God’s will to be done, dear Jesus, eased our June 30 heavy heart, our fears/concerns for an uncertain future for our country and our people!

Your critics and opposition saw your crucifixion and death as your failure and defeat but by these, because you obeyed God’s will and mission, you brought genuine triumph and victory, redemption and eternal reunion for all with God who loves us best!

Your message of love for us: despite a heavy heart, distress, crucifixion, and death: Follow God’s will and God’s victory will be ours forever!

In Psalm 37, your reassuring reminders:

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish. The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. The Lord helps and he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.”