Set On Jerusalem

The Fourth Week of Lent witnesses the beginning of an emphasis in the readings at Mass on the journey of Jesus to Jerusalem, the instensifying conflict with the Pharisees, and the final phase of his mission: his passion, death and resurrection. There are only two more weeks before Palm Sunday and Holy Week. How fast it is going! Jesus set his face like flint, steadfastly toward Jerusalem, knowing what awaited him there. His firmness of purpose is the model for us in our Lenten observances, especially those which are helping us to know and love him better and to serve him by serving others. Our prayer, fasting and almsgiving take on greater weight these final weeks as means of achieving this end. It might not be too early to turn to the Gospels and read the various accounts of those last days and meditate on aspects of them both as increase motivation and in preparation for Holy Week itself. I have found Chapters 12-20 of John particularly helpful in getting a fuller picture of Jesus, his relationship with "our" Father, and of his deep love for us. He's speaking to the Eleven, but also to us. There is much to be absorbed, and given our busy lives, we know realistically that we will only have time to take in little bits at a time. This is fine, for it will those little bits a chance to sink in and become part of us. Let us set our face steadfastly on Jesus as he set his on his arrival at Jerusalem. Bro. Rene