Stay close to Jesus this week.

STAY CLOSE TO JESUS THIS WEEK

Today we stand at the doorway of the most sacred week of the whole year - Holy Week.  We begin with joy: palms in our hands, voices raised, crying out, “Hosanna to the Son of David!”  We walk with Jesus as He enters Jerusalem, welcomed as King.

But we know something the crowd did not fully understand.  The same voices that cry “Hosanna!” today will cry “Crucify Him!” before the week is over.

And that is why this day is so important for us.

Because Palm Sunday asks us a question: Will you stay with Jesus, not just today, but all the way to the Cross?  It is easy to follow Jesus when the palms are waving, when the crowd is joyful, when faith feels uplifting.

But Holy Week is not only about joy - it is about suffering, silence, sacrifice, and love poured out completely.  Many who welcomed Jesus on Palm Sunday disappeared by Good Friday.  Not because they hated Him, but because they were afraid, distracted, or disappointed.  And if we are honest, we can be like that too.

We come today.  We wave our palms.  But will we be there: on Holy Thursday, when He gives us the Eucharist?  On Good Friday, when He dies for us?  In the quiet waiting of Holy Saturday?  Or will we drift away?

This is not just a story we remember.  This is something Jesus does for you, personally.  This week: He will kneel to wash your feet.  He will give you His Body and Blood.  He will carry your sins on His shoulders.  He will suffer your pain, your loneliness, your failures.  He will die… out of love for you.  Not for the crowd.
Not for humanity in general.  But for you.

And the question is: Will you walk with Him?

Holy Week is not about obligation.  It is about relationship.  Jesus does not force us.  He invites us.  Stay with Me.  Just as He said in the Garden: “Could you not watch one hour with Me?”  This week, He asks the same.  Not perfection.  Not long prayers.
Just presence.  Come and be with Him.

Let me invite you, very simply and very strongly: Do not let this Holy Week pass like any other week.  Make a decision today: come to Mass on Holy Thursday. Come and stand at the Cross on Good Friday.  Come and wait in hope on Holy Saturday.  And rejoice fully at Easter.  Even if you are tired.  Even if it is inconvenient.  Even if you don’t feel like it.  Love is proven by presence.

A child once said to his mother, “Mum, why did Jesus have to suffer so much?”  She replied, “Because He didn’t want to leave us alone in our suffering.”  The child thought for a moment and said, “Then I don’t want to leave Him alone either.”  That is Holy Week.  Do not leave Jesus alone.

Today we hold palms in our hands.  By Friday, we will see nails in His hands.  Let us not be people who only celebrate the triumph,
but people who remain faithful in love.  Walk with Him.
Stay with Him.  Pray with Him.

And then, when Easter comes, your joy will be real, because you did not run away from the Cross.

Lord Jesus, as we begin this Holy Week, give us the grace to stay close to You.  When the way becomes difficult, keep us faithful.  When we are tempted to turn away, hold us near.  May we walk with You to the Cross, so that we may share fully in the joy of Your Resurrection.  Amen.

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