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These days the car trip
from Galilee to Jerusalem takes about two hours. The
road twists through the Jordan Valley, following the
route of that famous river. In ancient times the journey
was made by foot. Whole villages packed their duffel
bags and trekked three times a year to Jerusalem for the
great feasts of Succoth, Pentecost, and Passover. It
took several days to cover the distance, even longer if
one took the long route to avoid the perilous territory
of the Samaritans.
Three times a year the people of Israel returned to
Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, as bidden by the
law of God. Such a journey was never easy; it was always
dangerous. Water was always in short supply. The roads
were a series of tortuous, uphill hairpin curves.
Bandits and wild animals lurked along the way. It still
is dangerous. The danger, though, lies not so much in
the wild beasts then or in political difficulties now.
That would be easy. No, the danger lies in what
Jerusalem does inside of people. Jerusalem makes us
think. Jerusalem shows us the truth. Jerusalem stones
prophets and crucifies messiahs.
That uphill road to Jerusalem is filled with stones. One
would think that God scattered all the pebbles on earth
here, to get inside pilgrims' sandals, to add irritation
to the already difficult journey. Legend says that no
one was allowed to enter this holy city with any kind of
sorrow. The stones that line the way are the jettisoned
sorrows of the pilgrims of the ages. So many stones! So
many sorrows! So many Via Dolorosas, Ways of the Cross.
Luke's gospel portrays Jesus' life as a journey to
Jerusalem. In the reading for the blessing of palms,
Jesus finally arrives at his destination, but Jerusalem
will not be kind to him. Like all pilgrims, he enters
from the Mount of Olives, which looms on the eastern
border of the city, separating it from the wilderness.
Many small villages still dot its landscape, like
Bethphage and Bethany. Like all the other pilgrims,
Jesus walks over the crest of the mountain and catches
his
first view of the Temple. The crowd of pilgrims always
shouted for joy at the first glimpse of this place.
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" This
was their enthusiastic greeting to one another.
Jesus begins his entry to Jerusalem like any other
pilgrim. But soon, as always with Jesus, things change.
The words of honour are directed at him! Recognizing
that Jesus has come to Jerusalem in God's name, the
crowd shouts: "Hosanna!" (Please, save us!) In deference
to this great one in their midst, they place their
cloaks on the ground, a sign of respect. Notice that no
palms are mentioned here. The people are using their
very own clothing!
The pilgrim Jesus is acclaimed by the crowd, the same
people who will shout for his death within the week. As
Jesus makes his way down the slope, he passes the
ancient cemeteries, an omen of what is to come. He goes
past the garden where he will pray and where he could
escape the treachery of Judas after the Last Supper.
"Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" sing the
crowds, like the angels on Christmas night. Everything
is coming full circle. So powerfully filled with God,
acclaimed by the crowds, this is the same Jesus who will
be emptied of everything, even of life, by week's end.
Everyone makes this journey to Jerusalem. With Jesus.
For some, there are many sorrows that need to be dealt
with and healed. For others, there will be the glance
toward Peter, a nod from Jesus. Forgiveness.
Understanding. Love. Some of us are like the thief,
grabbing a final chance to steal heaven through someone
else's goodness. Jesus understands that too. What
matters is that we keep making the pilgrimage toward
heaven and into our souls. What matters is that this
journey through Lent never really stops, but that we
keep on moving closer to God. Many things will happen to
Jesus this week in Jerusalem. Celebration. Betrayal.
Suffering. Death. Resurrection.
Whose footsteps will you follow this week? Peter's?
Judas's? The crowd's? Or those of Jesus? What will
Jerusalem do to you? What will Jerusalem do in you?
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