In the movie "The Titanic," the wealthy mining tycoon Benjamin Guggenheim declares to his companions as the ship sinks that they must accept their fate with austere dignity. "We are dressed in our best," he says, "and are prepared to go down as gentlemen."

Standing by in tuxedos was, apparently, the most gentlemanly act Mr. Guggenheim and his friends could come up with. Help others --- particularly women and children --- escape the shipwreck was not part of their aristocratic agenda.

In today's Gospel reading (John 12: 20-33), Jesus nears the end of his life and ministry. He knows his fate will bring unthinkable suffering. "I am troubled now. Yet what should I say?" he says to his followers. "'Father, save me from this hour?' But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name."

Jesus sees the horror of his death looming, and does not deny that it will be awful. Nor does he accept his fate with tasteful resignation. Instead, he continues to believe in the goodness of God. In a situation that appears as bleak as one could imagine --- the end of a life and the end of a life changing and world changing ministry --- Jesus sees not the triumph of evil or even of blind fortune, but the hand of God.

Many of us are faced with our own bleak fates. If we have not been personally impacted by the global economic crisis that surrounds us, it still often seems that circumstances are racing out of control in a negative direction. It is profoundly frightening.

One response is to beg to be rescued from the maelstrom. Another is to resign ourselves to a course of events that are seemingly out of our control. We can't change the status of our savings accounts, mortgages or jobs, so maybe the best we can do is resign ourselves to "go down as gentlemen."

Jesus did not ask to be rescued from his fate, nor did he accept it with mere passive resignation. Instead, he seemed to know from his relationship with God that there was a purpose in the hour that he faced. He did not ask to be rescued from his future because he believed that God and not blind fate or evil forces were truly responsible for what was taking place. And he believed that in the end, if he remained faithful, the glory of God would be revealed.

I don't know about you, but when I am facing pain and suffering I rarely assume that it is part of a plan of any kind. It has to be, in my mind, a departure from a plan for my peace and happiness. I rarely look for God's presence in difficulty, other than in the presence of some kind of divine lifeboat to rescue me. If no rescue boat arrives, I despair.

Today's Gospel suggests that there is another response to crises than to beg for relief or to give up. As Lent comes to a close, we are challenged to find hope and promise in bleak circumstances. And we are promised that if we do so, we might enjoy a glimpse of the glory of God.

Bill Peatman writes from Napa. He may be reached at bptidings@yahoo.com.