Note: This homily was written for our children’s Mass.
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I was up the hill teaching at our parish school recently and I asked some students between kindergarten and third grade about a time when they had to be brave.
One young girl said, “Well, um, one time I was brave when I jumped into the deep end of the pool.”
Another, “I used to be afraid of the slide outside at the playground. But that was back in first grade. Now I go down it all the time!”
Then a young boy piped up, “Once I spilled the milk. My mom asked if it was me. I was nervous, but I said, ‘yes’.”
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Even the youngest among us know what it means to be brave – to tell the truth, to take risks, to jump into the deep.
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Today Jesus begins the most important week of his life – a week in which he must be brave.
He’s jumping into the deep, trusting he’ll rise again.
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As we heard in the Gospel, he enters Jerusalem on a Sunday, surrounded by crowds laying palm branches at his feet like he’s their king.
But by Friday afternoon he’ll be nailed to a cross.
Sadly, Jesus dies almost entirely alone – only Mary, John, and a few other friends stay with him. The rest run away.
We can imagine how Jesus felt – it’s that feeling you get when you’re alone on the playground, when you’re being bullied, or when you’re sitting at lunch without any friends.
It’s like a sinking stomach. Being alone hurts.
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To all of our children gathered here this morning, I ask of you: Will you run away from Jesus? Or will you be brave and follow him?
If you’re ready to be brave, please stand, hold up your palms, and repeat after me: “I will be brave. I will follow Jesus.”