You

“The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.  The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” (Matthew 26:23-24).

The Kiss of Judas (Unknown)

I have been reflecting on the Passion and Death of Our Lord.

I am reflecting on the torment that He suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane and how alone He must have felt.  His dear friends, who He loved with all His Divine Heart, fell asleep as though His torment was nothing at all.  And then one among them – one who He loved and treated as His brother – betrayed Him for greed and a bit of silver.  And worse than that – when Judas betrayed God, he set himself on a path to complete despair that would destroy the life of his soul through his suicide.  And it was for this reason that Christ said of him, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.  The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” (Matthew 26:23-24).

And that time in the Garden of Gethsemane, how dreadful it was…

“Jesus went to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed Him. And when He came to the place he said to them, ‘Pray that you may not enter into temptation.’ And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, ‘Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.’ Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and gave Him strength. In His anguish He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. And when He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and He said to them, ‘Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.’ While He was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss Him; but Jesus said to Him, ‘Judas, would you betray the Son of man with a kiss?’ (Luke 22:14-23:56).

And I have been wondering what comfort my Beloved might have had in that garden on that night twenty centuries ago.  After all, the Angels came to Him and visited Him to give Him strength.  And I have been wondering what they said to God to give Him comfort.  What did they talk about?

And I have been thinking that perhaps they spoke about me – and about you too.  Perhaps they told my Beloved that YOU would be born one day to love Him and be with Him in Paradise.

And perhaps, just maybe, that gave Him strength…

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.