Staying with Him

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, He had just brought the dead Lazarus back to life and thus aroused many hopes among the people. When the people noticed that He was not about to fulfil these hopes, they dropped Him like a hot potato.

But not His disciples, they stayed with Him—even though they would have had every reason to doubt in Him as well. The agenda Jesus had presented was great, but His strategy was still an issue for the disciples. How could He, the Son of God, suffer and die? Was He hiding? And then He suddenly wanted to go to Jerusalem! Why would He want to do that? They were planning to kill Him there! And after a brief triumph on Palm Sunday, they quickly realised just how dangerous it was for them to be there. For them it would have been reason enough to say, “Count me out!” So why did they stay? Because they had followed the impulses of the Holy Spirit, who had revealed to them: “This is the Christ, the Son of the living God”, and counselled them: “Stay with Him! Listen to Him!”

Today, we are even a step further than the disciples then. We have received the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not just give us impulses. In fact, he dwells in us! Even if many leave the Lord disappointed and even if we often do not understand His plans, we know after all: this is the Son of God, who came into the flesh, who suffered and died, rose again and ascended into heaven, and will come again to redeem us once and for all! This is what the Holy Spirit reveals to us. And that is why we stay with Him!

Food for thought from a divine service by the Chief Apostle

April 2022