A grove of olive trees near where Jesus prayed as his Passion began. Not a hushed, secluded moment. The whole area would have been crowded with the tents of noisy pilgrims here for the feast of Passover.
Most of us are inclined to focus on the pain and suffering of the Passion. None of the Gospel writers do. Matthew writes only, "Having scourged Jesus" and further on "Having crucified him." The Gospel writers are more interested in the meaning of the Passion. Matthew gets at it right at the beginning in the olive garden (26:36-46.) Jesus prays, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup of suffering pass away from me." Only Matthew tells us what Jesus prays the second time he goes off by himself: "My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass away without my drinking it, your will be done."
Those last four words are in Matthew's version of the Lord's Prayer, the one we pray. This attitude of loving acceptance of the Father's will gives the meaning of the entire Passion.
We pray with our whole being that God will soon destroy this evil that threatens mankind; at the same time we say with Jesus, "Your will be done."
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