Palm Sunday
Reading Luke 19: 28-40
After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” just say this: ‘The Lord needs it.’ Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading the cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that had been seen, saying,
‘Blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!’
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, order your disciples to stop.’ He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’
Reflection Jesus who is ‘the way and the truth and the life’ (John 14:6) led the way to Jerusalem where salvation for all people would be fulfilled. True to His tradition, He sent his disciples out in pairs to share in his mission, (Luke 10:1) He commissioned them to find him a colt that had never been ridden, to untie it and bring it to him because he needed it. His disciples obeyed Him, found, untied and brought the colt to Jesus. They helped Him mount this humble animal and as a mark of respect to Him, strew their cloaks across His path. Songs of rejoicing and praise rang from their lips. Irritated by sounds of gladness and thanksgiving, the Pharisees complained; Jesus wished to enlighten their darkness of soul by informing them that if the people did not rejoice in who He was, the stones of the earth would cry out. This passage invites me to contemplate the wholehearted desire of Jesus to fulfil his mission. He was committed to reaching Jerusalem where salvation history would take place. He recognised His disciples need for prayerful companionsip on their missionary journey and sent them out in pairs.
I ask myself if I believe that Jesus wishes me to share in his mission? How willing am I to do so?
What are the areas of my life that need to be untied so that I can play my part in His mission.
The people placed their cloaks on the back of the colt and later on the road before him. What gifts do I wish to offer Jesus as a token of my gratitude for liberation from sin and a share in salvation history?
The people rejoiced as Jesus rode by. Am I a joyful witness to the gospel or what needs to change in my life so that this may be so?
Prayer
Lord, I ask for the grace to be deeply grateful for the gift of salvation. May I offer you cloaks of prayer, service and a sincere desire to make your name know and loved by all people, Amen.