Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/701

 3. Our Lord  knew  beforehand  how  many  souls  would  be  eternally lost in  spite  of  His  bitter  Passion  and  Death, because  they  would not believe  in  Him  and  would  not  love  Him. This knowledge  made the chalice  most  bitter,  and  tortured  His  Sacred  Heart,  for  He loved  men’s  immortal  souls  so  dearly  that  He  had  come  down  from heaven to  save  them  from  eternal  damnation. This was  why  He  sighed and prayed  in  such  an  agony;  it  was  not  for  Himself  alone,  but  for His brethren,  so  many  of  whom,  whatever  He  might  do,  would  cast themselves into  hell. He was  willing  to  be  bound,  scourged,  crowned with thorns,  and  nailed  to  the  Cross  to  save  the  souls  which  were made to  His  own  image;  and  yet  He  knew  that  for  very  many  His Precious Blood  and  His  Sufferings  would  be  wasted. This it  was that caused  the  keenest  anguish  to  the  Heart  of  Jesus,  all  on  fire  with love for  men!

How to  bear  suffering.  Look  at  out  dear  Lord,  suffering  such  agony of soul  for  love  of  us! There He  lies,  with  His  Face  on  the  ground, groaning in  spirit  and  trembling  in  His  agony. Around Him  is  the darkness of  night,  and  within  His  Heart  unspeakable  woe. He is  alone. His disciples  are  asleep,  and  nowhere  can  He  find  consolation! Now what did  Jesus  do  in  this  time  of  extreme  affliction  and  abandonment? He prayed  to  His  heavenly  Father,  and  resigned  Himself  entirely  to  His will. Thus should  we  do. If we  are  in  grief,  or  fear,  or  need,  we ought  to  turn  to  God,  from  whom  alone  we  can  obtain  comfort  and help, and  humbly  submit  ourselves  to  His  holy  will.

The Qualities  of  prayer.  Our  Blessed  Lord’s  example  teaches  us also  how  we  ought  to  pray. In the  Garden  of  Gethsemani  He  prayed with devotion,  — humility, — confidence y — submission  to  Gods  will,  — and perseverance: 1. with devotion;  for  He  prayed  from  the  very  bottom of His  Heart,  and  retired  a little  way  from  His  apostles  so  that  He might  pray  undisturbed;  2. with exterior  and  interior  humility;  for  He fell  on  His  Face,  humbling  Himself  in  the  dust  before  the  majesty  of His  Eternal  Father;  3. with confidence;  for  He  began  His  prayer  with the loving  words:  “My  Father”; 4. with submission  to  the  will  of  God; for He  left  the  granting  of  His  petition  entirely  in  the  Hands  of  His heavenly Father:  “Not  as  I will”,  said  He,  “but  as  Thou  wilt”; 5. with perseverance; for He  said  the  same  prayer  over  and  over  again. Even though He  received  no  visible  answer  to  His  petition,  He  did  not leave off  praying,  but  rather  “prayed  the  longer”.

Watchfulness. In the  midst  of  His  agony  Jesus  thought  more  of His  own  than  of  Himself. He went  back  several  times  to  His  disciples and urgently  exhorted  them  to  watch  and  pray,  that  they  might  not enter into  temptation. This exhortation  given  by  our  Lord  such  a short time before  His  Death  is  a very  important  one,  and  applied  not  only to the  apostles,  but  to  all  Christians. You have  been  told  over  and over again  that  prayer  is  necessary;  but  prayer  alone  is  not  sufficient,