Jesus Needs A Ride

We begin Holy Week once again with Pope Francis in the lead, and we pray for him.  Pope Francis and our Palm Sunday entrance’s Gospel donkey on which Jesus rides, remind me of a movie star of the 1950’s – Francis the Talking Mule – a mule being a cross between a donkey and a horse.  Pope Francis is going to have to be as strong as a mule – perhaps as stubborn – to effectively deal with the problems facing our Church.  We hope for his success – for victories and triumphs along his way.

Today we hold palms that are symbols of victory and triumph – certainly to the Romans of Jesus’ time.  They were symbols of eternal life to the ancient Egyptians who carried palms in funeral processions. They were the symbol of Christian martyrs and their spiritual victory over death.  Palms are more than long leaves to be fashioned into crosses, and, of course, we burn them at the beginning of Lent giving us ashes for Ash Wednesday.

Another symbol is provided by that Gospel donkey, referred to as a colt.  Riding on a donkey, Jesus entered Jerusalem. And why not?  The donkey was considered to be an animal of peace contrasted with the horse – the symbol of war.  Jesus was the prince of peace so he rode the donkey.  Caesar rode a horse.  Jesus was not a war-waging king. He was the peace-maker reminding everyone about choosing to be citizens of the Kingdom of God and not the Kingdom of Caesar.

Jesus’ struggles during Holy Week give us examples as to why we should be stubborn like mules and never give up when faced with adversity or when we pursue a cause that is right and just, especially when that cause is for the good of others: for the poor and forsaken; for the outcasts and abandoned; for those who are wronged, bullied, lonely, or unloved. 

His message to us of facing our problems and not hiding from them, dealing with danger and evil, and never giving up despite the odds is one message of Holy Week as we travel with Jesus from the gate of Jerusalem to the events of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and his crucifixion, and to Easter and his resurrection. 

Let’s remember this Palm Sunday that Jesus is saying to us: “Ride with me.”  Actually, he is saying: “Be my beasts of burden – the donkeys on which I can ride. I cannot do what I must without your help. I will carry you during the hard times of your lives. In return, you must take on the burdens of the least of my brothers and sisters who need me – who need you.  Do this in memory on me.”

The infant Jesus was in the stable with donkeys, and he rode one while in his mother’s arms after he was born.  Today we remember him as an adult riding to his death and then his resurrection.  Let’s also remember this week and every other week that we are all his donkeys, and Jesus needs a ride.

Deacon David Pierce