Journey to the Cross

Pause

Pause. Take the deepest breath you've taken all day.

Use this moment to choose stillness in the midst of news and crisis.

Place yourself into the story – into God's story.

Let God enter your mind and your heart today.

Listen

When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus gave two disciples a task. He said to them, “Go into the village over there. As soon as you enter, you will find a donkey tied up and a colt with it. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that their master needs them.” He sent them off right away. Now this happened to fulfill what the prophet said, Say to Daughter Zion, “Look, your king is coming to you, humble and riding on a donkey, and on a colt the donkey’s offspring.”

Matthew 21:1-5

Think

“He is humble and rides on a donkey.” Not a G-wagon or scooter or SUV. What would a “donkey” be in 2020? Maybe the 15-year-old “safe family car” of your parents’ choice when you were born? Or maybe the “donkey” is the old mini-van of your pre-school days.

Jesus felt that a humble entrance was important as he neared what was to be his final week of life. We imagine that Jesus was teaching a lesson in this choice: that to be a person of God, one does not need flash.

We’d expect a popular speaker/teacher/rabbi to come in a fancier manner – maybe with servants and instruments leading the entrance. But Jesus chose basic. There is a lot of talk about being “basic.” Isn’t it weird how a simple word becomes a cultural description? But “basic” whispers something to us. It nudges us to let go of impressing others and to be ourselves.

Perhaps Jesus wanted to be seen as a human being, NOT a celebrity; as a man, NOT a superman. Perhaps Jesus wanted to be seen – just as he was. Just as you are and long to be seen as well.

Gina Yeager-Buckley

Pray

God, remind me of the power of being myself. Of being who you created. Of representing all that is good and essential and basic about loving you and being loved by you. Amen.

Go

Go into the next moment of your life with a sense of celebration, of gratitude, of curiosity, and with the knowledge that you are a part of God’s story. Each and every line of it.