“Untie It and Bring It Here” by Rev. Paul Berghout

“Untie It and Bring It Here” by Rev. Paul Berghout

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

Piety

"Go into the village opposite you, and as you enter it you will find a colt tethered on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. And if anyone should ask you, 'Why are you untying it?' you will answer, 'The Master has need of it.'"  Luke 19:30-31

I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting. The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame.  Isaiah 50:6-7

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:6-8

It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit"; and when he had said this he breathed his last. Luke 19:44-46

Study

It’s not easy to pair a celebratory parade with a trial and execution. So, two thoughts on Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday.

1). Palm Sunday

Untie the colt and bring it here.

As Rev. Dr. Jennifer A. Little noted, we can enter into this story in so many places. How about identifying with those sent by Jesus to make preparations. Jesus had made prior arrangements for a colt to be at his disposal. This isn't just any colt. It is a colt that has not been ridden. And it is to be found tied to a gate or door. It will be ready.

Seems like every day in the life of the church we are called to make this journey of these two disciples on an important errand for Jesus and God's kingdom. You are sent by God to untie the colt. What is the errand you are sent on today?

If nothing, what binds are holding you back from fulfilling Jesus' call to be disciples?

2). Passion Sunday

Author Arianna Huffington tells of viewing the famous passion play in Europe held once every ten years with people coming from all over the world to watch the play. As Huffington watched the play, she also observed the irony going on around her. As Jesus drove the money-changers out of the temple, vendors wandered among the crowd and sold over-priced religious trinkets. As the soldiers attempted to quench Jesus' thirst on the cross, the audience gulped down their Cokes and crunched on the ice. Despite the distractions, Huffington reports that the message of the play still came through. As she wrote, "Even amid the clamor and commercialism, I had felt the power of inexplicable peace.”

Action

At Mass, the Church joins in Christ’s self-offering to the Father in the Holy Spirit. It calls the faithful not only to offer the spotless victim but also to learn to offer themselves.

“Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.”

Let us be on guard against the temptation to rush His beaten Body down from the Cross, thinking that we have already traveled our road to salvation.

We still have to travel it and Christ’s suffering can be our beacon along the way and an invitation to offer our own self-sacrifice.

Amen.