And leaving them, He went away again, and He prayed the third time, saying the same words. And there appeared to Him an Angel from Heaven, strengthening Him. And being in an agony, He prayed the longer. And His sweat became as drops of blood trick ling down upon the ground. Then He cometh the third time to His disciples and saith to them: "Sleep ye on now and take your rest. It is enough, the hour is come. Behold the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise up, let us go; behold he that will betray Me is at hand." - Matthew 26:44-46; Mark 14:41,42; Luke 22:45,46
1. There is something very becoming in this picture of consolation which is told us by Saint Luke. In the trial of the Angels. Before the beginning of man, many had been faithful; they had bowed before the Man-God that was to be. When the time was full, an Angel announced His coming; when He came, and man took no notice of Him, the skies were thronged with angels singing His glory. When He lay in the desert, exhausted in body, tempted by the devil, "Behold Angels came and ministered unto Him." We do not wonder, then, that this third time, when again He is deserted by man, and tempted by Satan, an Angel is visible at His sideband gives Him the succour that as Man He needs.
2. Thus is Our Lord's prayer heard. But, let us notice - the answer to the prayer is very different from the words of the petition. He asked that the chalice might be removed; instead, it is made yet more bitter, by the continued neglect of His chosen three, by the coming ever nearer of the traitor and his band, by His own growing weakness and inability to resist. But there comes along with all this, not mere comfort, but increase of strength; not relief from His burthen, but the power to endure yet more; not an end to the agony, but the courage to "pray the longer"; not rest at last upon the soft grass, but "resistance even unto blood," so that "His sweat became as drops of blood trickling on the ground." Is there anything more sublime, and yet more human, than that blood-bathed Body? So does God hear prayer; so much farther does God see than we. When we ask for rest, for consolation, He prefers to make us heroes; and when it is over, and we look back, we thank Him that "not our will, but His has been done." There is no exception to this rule.
3. What a transformation takes place after this third prayer! To the end of the Passion, no matter what men may do to Him, we shall never see Him falter or broken any more. Always henceforth He is Master. He has strength for Himself, except such as may depend upon His poor worn body; and He has strength for everyone about Him. His disciples may sleep if they will; He will protect them; in the hour of danger He will call them. The hour does come; He does call them; He gives them fair warning; He recommends them to go; there is strength in every word and gesture. We look on amazed; we wonder whether we have understood aright; and yet around us we see the same illustrated in those who seek their own support in prayer.
Summary
1. The coming of the Angel is of a piece with the rest of the life of Our Lord.
2. His prayer is heard, not in the letter, but with an increase of strength.
3. And that strength is abiding, not for Himself only, but also for others.
- from The Crown of Sorrow, by Archbishop Alban Goodier