Be With Jesus

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

           

On the occasions when I am called to the hospital or to a house, to administer the sacraments to a person who is dying, there is, 99% of the time, at least one other person there to keep the dying person company.  There is, perhaps, nothing worse than going through a terminal illness and preparing for death alone, and we seem to instinctively know this, as people will do all they can (take time off work, travel far distances, spend large amounts of money) to be with someone in their last days.

            Brothers and sisters, during this Holy Week, we remember the days leading up to Jesus’ suffering and death.  He was not stricken by a terminal illness, but as He took the full weight of sin upon Himself, fewer and fewer stood by Him, and no one quite understood the pain He was undergoing as He freely offered His life, the full gift of Himself, to the Father.  You may not have to take time off work, or travel long distances, but will you be with Jesus this week?  Will you challenge yourself to stand with Jesus at Mass as He undergoes His passion?  Whether it’s the 6:30 a.m. Mass Monday through Wednesday at St. Thomas, or the 12:15 p.m. Mass Monday and Wednesday, or the 9:15 p.m. Mass Tuesday at St. John, will you accompany Jesus?  Will you stay with Jesus on Monday as Mary, the sister of Martha, takes the costly perfumed oil and anoints Jesus’ feet?  Will you stay with Jesus on Tuesday in the Upper Room as the Betrayer is announced and Judas leaves the twelve?  Will you stay with Jesus on Spy Wednesday, as Judas goes to the Chief Priests and offers to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver?

            Will you walk with Jesus through the Sacred Triduum?  The Mass of the Lord’s Supper begins this commemoration at 7 p.m. at St. John, and at 7:30 p.m. at St. Thomas.  Will you walk with Jesus to the Upper Room as He institutes the Priesthood and the Eucharist on Holy Thursday?  Will you walk with Jesus through the Kidron Valley to the Garden of Gethsemane as we process with Jesus’ true presence in the Eucharist from St. John to St. Thomas, and then we all walk around St. Thomas to the Chapel of Repose?  Will you walk with Jesus on the way of the cross as we celebrate Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord?  Will you stand at the foot of the cross with Mary, the Mother of God, Mary, the wife of Clopas, Mary of Magdala, and St. John, the Beloved Disciple?   Will you wait on Holy Saturday, and then go to the tomb on Saturday night or Sunday morning?  Will you be there for Jesus?

            As He died on the cross, Jesus prayed the words of Psalm 22—“‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachtani?’” “‘My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?’”—as He felt the full weight of sin and its punishment fall upon Him.  Let us not give Jesus reason to ask why we have abandoned Him in the hour He desires us to be with Him the most.