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March 28, 2023
The Gospel today begins with Jesus saying, “I am going away…” In just a few days, on Palm Sunday, Jesus enters Jerusalem and things ramp up from there. So, we know what is coming and Jesus knows what is coming. And Jesus wants to prepare us.
His advice is to look to him. Jesus says, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM…” In earlier times when the people of Israel needed healing, God instructed Moses to mount a bronze serpent on a pole, and when people looked at it, they were healed. Jesus tells us now, in the new covenant, that when we look at him, we will realize that he is our savior! And we follow our savior!
Jesus did not leave us empty-handed but gave us so many gifts to help us in this life in preparation for eternal life. We have the Church, the people of God, the Word of God, the sacred scriptures, the Holy Spirit which continually guides us, the sacraments, and especially the Body and Blood of Christ.
Jesus has not left us alone, but he has given us a path to follow. Jesus clears a way for us, through Jerusalem, through Holy Thursday and Good Friday, and through the Resurrection on Easter Sunday. It is not an easy path, but it is not one that we go on alone.