There was a garden.

“Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried.” (JN 19: 41)

From the garden in Paradise to the garden in Gethsemane leads the path of our redemption. We were loved in Paradise, we are loved in Gethsemane—which means: we are free to choose, to make mistakes, to fail, and to reject God’s love. Only “Christ became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Our freedom is for God so important because there is no right answer possible if we are forced to do something; the same rules are for spouses and for parents, for communities, and for friends.

“Christ became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every other name.” (Verse before the Gospel)