Agony in the Garden

Posted by laurieetta on May 12, 2024 in Being Human | Leave a comment

The anguish of our Lord is vividly captured in this masterpiece. Paolo Veronese, the artist, skillfully portrays the human aspect of Jesus. Confronted with the impending suffering of the next day, Jesus has succumbed to the weight of grief, collapsing into the comforting embrace of an angel. Observe the poignant detail of Jesus’ arm draped over the angel’s knee. The angel’s countenance is turned towards the heavens, almost beseeching God to spare his son from the impending agony. A beam of divine light descends from above, casting its radiance upon the angel’s garment. In the depths of the shadows behind them, Jesus’ companions slumber, unable to keep watch as Jesus had requested.

This painting pairs well with a poem by Mary Oliver titled, Gethsemane.

The grass never sleeps.
Or the roses.
Nor does the lily have a secret eye that shuts until
     morning.

Jesus said, wait with me. But the disciples slept.

The cricket has such splendid fringe on its feet,
and it sings, have you noticed, with its whole body,
and heaven knows if it ever sleeps.

Jesus said, wait with me. And maybe the stars did,
maybe the wind wound itself into a silver tree, and
      didn’t move, maybe
the lake far away, where once he walked as on a
blue pavement,
lay still and waited, wild awake.

Oh the dear bodies, slumped and eye-shut,
     that could not
keep that vigil, how they must have wept,
so utterly human, knowing this too
must be a part of the story.

Being Human connection: Would you or I be able to wait with our Lord, when the eyelids are heavy and the day is long? I would like to think I would but chances are I would fail him too. In that moment, I would find myself seeking the forgiveness that Jesus sacrificed himself to grant me.

Featured art: Paolo Veronese, The Agony in the Garden, 1582–3, Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan, Italy