I came to Lent this year with my usual expectation, yearning for intimacy with Jesus. Walking through Lent with Jesus brings me an encounter with the reality of my earthly experience, both the meanness and the sweetness of it all wrapped together.

When Jesus prays in the garden to “Let this cup pass from me” I feel so close to him I would love to just hold him. What I do hold is the image of the angel with him, a strengthening presence. How comforting, not to be alone in our trials, to have support, to have grace. I am so glad that Luke’s gospel features an angel with Jesus in the garden (chapter 22, 42-46), especially since his closest friends did not stay awake to comfort him.

I love thinking of God’s grace being available especially if no other souls stay by our side when we are in our hardest experiences.

Later when Jesus cries out “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” I want to say, Yes, Lord, I have been there. Now I can believe for sure that You do know my distress, for you were there too in your earthly experience.

What would I do without Jesus. How amazing to me to have a God who would leave the comfort of heaven to have personal knowledge of what it is to be a human being. I can take absolutely anything to God. How can I thank my God for loving me that much?

-Marianne Dreyspring