Ascent to Jerusalem

“Jesus went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.” Luke 19:28

I was reading the spiritual reflection of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, and he had this to say: “Being Christian is a path or, better, a pilgrimage; it is to travel with Jesus Christ, to journey in the direction He has pointed out and is pointing out to us. 

“But what direction is this? How do we find it? Our Gospel passage offers clues in this regard. In the first place it says it is an ascent. This has first of all a very concrete meaning. Jericho, where the last part of Jesus’ pilgrimage began, is 250 meters below sea-level: a climb of almost 1000 meters. But this external route is above all an image of the internal movement of existence that occurs in the following of Christ; it is an ascent to the true heights of being human. Man can choose an easy path and avoid every effort. He can also sink to the low and vulgar. He can flounder in the swamps of falsehood and dishonesty. Jesus walks before us and towards the heights. He leads us to what is great, pure. He leads us to that healthy air of the heights: to life in accordance with the truth; to courage that does not let itself be intimidated by the gossip of prevalent opinions; to patience that bears with and sustains the other. He guides people to be open to suffering, to those who are neglected. He leads us to stand loyally by the other, even when the situation becomes difficult. He leads us to the readiness to give help; to the goodness that does not let itself be disarmed, even by ingratitude. He leads us to love; He leads us to God.” 

Let us go with Jesus, up to Jerusalem, this Holy Week, and all the weeks of our life.