A reading from the Gospel according to Luke, chapter 19, verses 28 through 40, from The Message by Brian McLaren.
And a meditation.
After saying these things, Jesus headed straight up to Jerusalem.
What do you see?
Jesus on the road…his face set for Jerusalem, his destination for a long time now. He knows what is waiting for him there.
What expression do you see on Jesus’ face?
Is he tired?
Is he determined?
Is he frightened?
Is he hopeful?
When he got near Bethphage (which means, House of unripe figs) and Bethany (which means either House of Ananias, or House of the Poor) at the mountain called Olives, he sent off two of the disciples with instructions: “Go to the village across from you. As soon as you enter, you’ll find a colt tethered, one that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says anything, asks, ‘What are you doing?’ say, ‘His Master needs him.’”
The two left and found it just as he said. As they were untying the colt, its owners said, “What are you doing untying the colt?”
They said, “His Master needs him.”
What do you see? Which disciples do you imagine Jesus sent?
Did he send two brothers?
Was it Peter and Andrew? John and James?
Was one of them Thomas? Or maybe Philip?
Bartholomew? James the son of Alphaeus?
What do you see?
What is the look on their faces?
Are they excited?
Are they worried?
Are they resolute?
Are they curious?
And the colt… what about him? or her?
What color, do you imagine? Donkey brown, donkey grey?
How young a colt?
Is it frisky? Skittish?
Do the disciples look like they’ve handled a donkey before?
Does the colt react when he hears the phrase,
His Master needs him.
They brought the colt to Jesus.
Then, throwing their coats on its back, they helped Jesus get on.
What do you see?
How does Jesus greet this young colt?
Take a moment to see his gentleness. To see the animal trusting him.
How does this young colt respond to Jesus climbing on him?
Take a moment to see the colt respond to the unfamiliar weight,
and then, go on his way.
As he rode, the people gave him a grand welcome, throwing their coats on the street.
Right at the crest, where Mount Olives begins its descent, the whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise over all the mighty works they had witnessed:
“Blessed is he who comes,
the king in God’s name!
All’s well in heaven!
Glory in the high places!”
What do you see?
The people placed their coats on the road.
What does that mean to you?
What do you think it meant to Jesus?
What do you hear?
Do you hear the excited crowd talking amongst themselves?
Do you hear the singing… do you hear the music?
What does it sound like?
Is it solemn? Is it joyous? Is it humble? Is it regal?
Some Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, get your disciples under control!”
But he said,
“If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise.”
We have been taught to think of the Pharisees as being a thorn in Jesus’ side.
But just a few chapters ago, in the gospel of Luke,
the Pharisees tried to save Jesus from Herod, who wanted to kill him.
What do you hear?
How do you hear their words now?
Is it possible they think he’s in danger?
Is it possible they are trying to save Jesus again?
Now, hear Jesus’ words again.
“If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise.”
What is the look on Jesus’ face as he speaks these words?
Is it solemn?
Is it joyous?
Is it humble?
Is it regal?
Take a moment to take it all in… the whole scene…
from donkey acquisition,
to Jesus riding
to coats flapping
to the crowd singing
to the Pharisees warning
to Jesus responding.
“If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise.”
Take it all in.
What did you see?
What did you hear?
What will you pray?
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| Lorenzetti, Pietro, active 1320-1348. Entry into Jerusalem, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=55432 [retrieved April 5, 2022]. Original source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Assisi-frescoes-entry-into-jerusalem-pietro_lorenzetti.jpg. |
Thank you for posting this. It struck me as being very much in the Ignatian tradition, this imagining oneself at the scene of the story.
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