A Different Perspective

Psalm Sunday April 5, 2020

A Different Perspective

Our lives have been turned upside down. 

This is not the Lenten season we began on February 26^th.

This will not be the Holy Week that you and I are used to having and

          Easter Sunday will be a unique celebration from all other years.

Today is Palm Sunday.

You and I wish we could be together,

waving palms, singing Hosanna, and rejoicing by sharing communion.

This Palm Sunday is different.

I know many of you will listen to online sermons,

read the Bible together and be in prayer in your homes.

The Gospel lesson for today comes from Matthew 21:1-11.

It is the familiar story of Jesus entry into Jerusalem.

21 When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, ² saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. ³ If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” ⁴ This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,

⁵ “Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
    humble, and mounted on a donkey,
        and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

⁶ The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; ⁷ they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. ⁸ A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹ The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!
    Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

¹⁰ When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” ¹¹ The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”

I would like to share with you a different perspective of this scripture.

A view from the donkey, what she may have experienced on that day.

“It has been a very unusual day.  Nothing special about how it began, waking up to see my owner ready to feed us -me and my colt.  And the day continued as usual.  Until, until 2 men came and began untying us.  I was worried.  Were we being stolen or had my owner sold us; would I be separated from my colt?

My owner approached them and questioned them…’what are you doing?’.  The men answered him, ‘The Lord needs them’.  My owner nodded and sent us on our way with the 2 men.  I was so confused.  Who are these men?  Who is this Lord who needs me and my colt?  What will be done with us?

My questions, doubts, and fears were soon alleviated.  My colt and I were taken to a group of men, one seemed especially interested in me.  He petted me, spoke gently to me, and a calm I had never felt before came over me; my colt also experienced this.  We were no longer worried.

The men began putting their cloaks on us, this too gave me sense of comfort.  The kind man sat atop me.  He did not speak harshly or push me beyond my speed, only a pat or two and some gentle guidance as we approached the city.  Who was this man?  A Lord or King would not be riding me, they would be on a great steed with robes of purple, gold braids, and guards protecting him. 

This man had a few followers, not noble or royal but simple folks who saw something special within him.  He was humble, kind, and righteous. As we entered the city, people began putting their cloaks on the road.  Others cut branches and laid the palms before us.  I had never seen anything like this.

I heard the people shout ‘Hosanna to the Son of David.  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’  Others were asking ‘Who is this?’  They were told ‘the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee’.

Jesus, I finally have a name for the kind man!  There is something special about this man.  I am not sure what it is, I sometimes cannot understand the ways of the humans.  I do know love; love for my colt, love from my owner who takes care of us, and now a greater love, a love this man spreads with his words and actions.

It has been an unusual day.  A day that blessed me and brought me joy.  The day ends with me and my colt ready for rest and when we wake tomorrow to face our usual tasks, our burdens will seem lighter.  Even the least among the animals, the humble donkey can have hope.”

Amen!

Psalm Sunday Donkey painted 4/4/19