Thoughts for the Day

* Four years ago today I sent out the first 'Thoughts for the Day' to a few people, they now go all round the world to hundreds of people. Thank you for your emails this last week, they have been much appreciated, and will help me keep going for a 5th year. Don't forget to send me names and email addresses of those who would like to receive them.

Sharon

When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” just say this, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.”’ They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, ‘What are you doing, untying the colt?’ They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,

‘Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!’

Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Today there is a choice of two readings - the whole passion story or the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. For many years I parcelled out big chunks to the best readers and it was wonderful to hear the whole story, but the most meaningful services were held in small churches where everyone read a small section. It didn't matter if their reading skills were poor because we all had the text, but emotionally we were rung out at having to shout "Crucify him! Crucify him!" as part of the crowd and to listen to those last words on the cross.

One of the things that links all these chapters in Mark is the theme of 'Kingship'. The reading from Chapter 11 is a piece of drama and everyone would have known what it meant - the Messiah - the King, had arrived. The prophet Zechariah had said:

Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem!
Lo, your king comes to you;
triumphant and victorious is he,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (9.9)

Kings at war came into a town on a fierce stallion, a king at peace came on a donkey. Jesus came to bring peace, but the people wanted a warrior king who would defeat the Romans, and a few days later would turn upon him. In Mark (Chapter 15) the Kingship that Jesus offers is constantly derided and ridiculed, and he is questioned about being the 'king of the Jews'. Jesus the King has come to reshape our understanding of what power should be about, instead of ruthlessness it is about mercy and love. How might this thought about power affect our life today?

King of kings and Lord of lords,
You chose to ride into Jerusalem
as a King of peace,
and the people e welcomed You
only to reject You days later.
All too often we too have spurned You
and gone our own way.
This Lent may we journey with You,
to Your death on Good Friday
and Your resurrection on Easter Monday,
knowing that You have called us to be
Your children.
May we learn to be worthy of that calling.
Amen.