Jesus’ Way

Acts 20:17-27. John 17:1-11.

“And now you see me on my way to Jerusalem in captivity to the Spirit....”

At the end of his life with Jesus Christ, Paul decides to go to Jerusalem. He says: “Compelled by the Holy Spirit I am going to Jerusalem.” Paul feels that the Holy Spirit is asking him to go to Jerusalem. He also knows that the Holy Spirit is warning him that if he goes to Jerusalem he will be arrested. He is going Jesus’ way. Jesus, too, knew that he had to go to Jerusalem and that he would be arrested there. Jesus’ disciples asked Jesus not to go. Paul’s friends do the same (Acts 21:12).

Paul’s story follows the pattern of Jesus’ story. The journey to Jerusalem is the final one. Jesus and Paul both began their journeys reaching into their inner self. Jesus did that before he came out of Nazareth and while he was in the desert after being baptized by John the Baptizer. Saul did it when, being struck by the Lord at Damascus, he turned into the Paul we know. Both Jesus and Paul then continued their journey through life, reaching out to the people they met around them. And both Jesus and Paul decided that going to Jerusalem would be the final part of their journey, bringing all they had experienced and rallying all those they had met. All his life, Jesus was on an inner journey, an outer journey, and a centering journey. So was Paul, following the way of Jesus.

If we are faithful in the world in which we live, our story will be like Jesus’ and Paul’s, though not necessarily as dramatic as theirs, but certainly just as real as theirs. Any time we enter into ourselves in prayer we will discover that we are called to reach out and bring the whole world with all its people together in the Lord. This is the way Jesus went, and Paul, and all those who lived the Way before us.

The Spirit is inviting us and challenging us today!