Jesus was human like the rest of us.  Jesus breathed like we do.  Jesus laughed like we do.  Jesus smiled like we do.  Jesus hurt like we do.  Jesus felt the sting of betrayal and insults like we do.  Jesus felt physical pain like we do.  Jesus was human like we are.

As Jesus remained in Jerusalem, he experienced the joy of time with his disciples, the feeling of betrayal by his closest friends, and insults from people determined to be rid of Jesus.  Jesus stayed true to his course.  Jesus let no one deter him from what God asked of him. 

It is hard to wrap our brains around this.  How did Jesus go through all of this?  Only one thing comes to mind– Jesus remained rooted firmly in God.  The passage in John’s gospel sheds some light that says:  

Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.

 I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. (Jn 15:  5-6).   

Jesus remained in God.  God remained in Jesus.  We are called to do the same– to remain in God- to remain firmly, planted and rooted in God so that we can do what God asks of us. 

What can I learn from Jesus’ example as he stayed in Jerusalem and endured the same human emotions that we feel? 
What do I need to let go of to remain rooted in God?

Becky Eldredge

Becky is an Ignatian-trained spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and writer. She is the author of the Busy Lives and Restless Souls (March 2017, Loyola Press) and The Inner Chapel (April 2020, Loyola Press). She helps others create space to connect faith and everyday life through facilitating retreats and days of reflection, through writing, and through spiritual direction. With nearly twenty years of ministry experience within the Catholic Church, Becky seeks to help others discover God at work in the every day moments of people’s lives by utilizing St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises and the many gifts that our Catholic faith and Ignatian Spirituality provide.