Scripture study invites us to accept God’s will in our life

by Amy Reinhardt
Special to The Leaven

OVERLAND PARK — March 5 marks the day when thousands of Catholics throughout the archdiocese will be marked by ashes and begin their Lenten sacrifices.

Just as Advent prepares hearts for Christ’s birth, Lent prepares hearts for Christ’s passion and resurrection.

To make the most of the Lenten season, Deacon Tim McEvoy at Holy Cross Parish in Overland Park recommends Catholics give Scripture study a try.

Scripture study all starts with the passage. And the one he would choose for Lent, Deacon McEvoy said, is the Agony in the Garden from Luke 22:39-46.

The passage reads: “Then going out he went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. When he arrived at the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you may not undergo the test.’ After withdrawing a stone’s throw from them and kneeling, he prayed, saying, ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.’ And to strengthen him, an angel from heaven appeared to him. He was in such agony and he prayed so fervently that his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground. When he rose from prayer and returned to his disciples, he found them sleeping from grief. He said to them, ‘Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not undergo the test.’”

In studying a passage like this, Deacon McEvoy said, the first important thing to remember is to read it prayerfully. Reading the verses more than once can prompt greater insight and understanding. In fact, each read-through may spark a new interpretation.

“I read it, ponder it, pray about it and then I be quiet to see what God tells me about my life,” said Deacon McEvoy.

This method is referred to as “lectio divina,” which is Latin for “divine reading.” The purpose of this western Christian practice is to read, reflect and pray the Bible in a way that draws one closer to God.

The reader must read slowly, focus on key verses and/or images, and take time to absorb the details before going back and reading the passage a second time. Embracing the silence afterward opens one’s heart to anything God would like to say.

The verse that struck Deacon McEvoy the most from the Agony in the Garden passage is when Jesus says, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.”

Jesus did not want to be crucified, Deacon McEvoy explains. He spent time in prayer, begging God to spare him from this horrific way of dying. The passage represents Jesus’ humanity, because like any human being, he did not want to endure physical suffering.

“Agony” in Greek translates to “struggle, or wrestling match.” Jesus experiences tremendous struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane. Deacon McEvoy said reading the Agony in the Garden several times allows us to reflect on our own struggles.

“This is one of the secrets of living the Christian life,” said Deacon McEvoy. “You can beg that you might be spared from suffering, but in the end, you must always say, ‘Not my will but yours be done.’”

Although Jesus prayed for the cup to pass, he also trusted and loved his Father enough to accept and obey his will.

“There were times in my life when I either wanted or didn’t want something really bad. I’d pray, ‘God, do it my way, do it my way,’ but I knew I had to end my prayers with, ‘But not my will but yours be done,’” said Deacon McEvoy.

He also shared how repeating this phrase changed his outlook and strengthened his relationship with God.

“It became easier for me to accept whatever came into my life because I’d submitted to God’s will, ” he said.

Deacon McEvoy also explained how Lent can really be understood in two parts. The first few weeks are dedicated to our personal reform and changing our lives through penance. The second part is the final two weeks of Lent, referred to as Passiontide. These 14 days are for remembering Jesus’ suffering.

Willingly accepting God’s will and drawing nearer to him is the focus of the upcoming liturgical season. Selecting a penance is a great strategy. The key is sacrificing a vice that distracts one from being a better disciple.

Deacon McEvoy reminds us that it is not about perfectly giving up something, like desserts, screen time or alcohol. What we really should be seeking during Lent is God’s will. What does Our Lord want us to sacrifice for him?

“The goal has to be — in the end — that we love Jesus more, and that we’re growing closer to Jesus during these 40 days,” Deacon McEvoy concluded.