Monday, March 11, 2013

Today’s text

Luke 19:35-37

So they took the colt to Jesus and, throwing their cloaks on its back, they lifted Jesus on to it. As he moved off, they spread their cloaks in the road, and now, as he was approaching the downward slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole group of disciples joyfully began to praise God at the top of their voices for all the miracles they had seen. 

Reflection

I understand their joy, and that may be the greatest blessing of all. I know what moves a human heart to release all self-repression, throw caution to the wind and let loose in full-throated praise.

Your friends lifted you, Jesus, on the back of a gentle beast to process into the city.

They lifted you because you had lifted them above mere existence into the presence of God where their hearts were full and they wanted for nothing.

You awakened their hopes that neither they nor this poor planet is abandoned but is enveloped in love and guided to a goal, to final completion when the compassion that fills you fills every heart and relationship.

You stirred their souls to feel this hope within and opened their eyes to see signs of this new kingdom appearing in your face--and even in their hearts, hands and voices as they offered the grace that poured from them in your presence.

You lifted them from mere existence to life and the joy of knowing themselves caught up in God’s total, crazy love for them and all in this world.

You lifted them, and they lifted you, throwing their cloaks on the road and hailing you as the fulfillment of God’s promise to come fulfill their hope for life.

These are not calculated actions on their part but spontaneous joy spilling from the hearts of those who have been lifted into the kind of life and hope they never imagined was possible for them.

Fullness of gratitude cannot be bottled up. It bursts the heart and finds expression, rushing out to give thanks and to bless the source of the startling and joy that comes as utter gift.

Just so, Jesus, this may be your entry of triumph into the holy city, Jerusalem. But it is also the liberation of the human heart from the constraints and chains that hold it captive to fear and hopelessness.

In you, they knew … the heart of the Holy One who holds them and all time.

You lifted them above their sorrows and troubles into a knowing their hearts never knew that they always wanted … and so desperately needed.

So they lifted you.

Pr. David L. Miller