April 13, 2014 The Bridge Meditations Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey. . . Matthew 21:5 (NRSV) Jesus deliberately chose a donkey for his ride into Jerusalem, an event we celebrate on Palm Sunday. The people who followed along didn’t clamor after a mighty conqueror on a black steed. They applauded Jesus, an unlikely king who rode on a pack animal. The Palm Sunday people celebrated a leader who lived simply, spoke boldly, and gave life and healing to the riff-raff of society. As the story unfolds, these followers shout, “Hosanna” and “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Sometimes, I’ve heard pastors label the Palm-Sunday people as ruthlessly fickle. Some sermons suggest this crowd flipped to the dark side without a second thought. Riding high on mob mentality, they shouted ecstasy one day and execution the next. “Crucify Him” came out of their mouths as easily as “Hosanna…” I suppose that’s possible, but what if there were two separate crowds? What if the Palm Sunday followers were ignored while the merciless mob gained strength? What if the “Hosanna” people were pushed aside as powerless? What if they were silenced—even punished? That would be true of the King on the donkey, who still comes in seemingly powerless ways. Sometimes we hear him in the voice of a neighbor who immigrated recently, an elderly woman who can’t leave her home, or a man who finds himself homeless. Other times, we’re oblivious to a Palm Sunday Jesus—it’s just more comfortable that way. Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me find you and follow you into unlikely places. Amen Question: How is Jesus revealing himself today? Written by Deborah Jansen The Bridge is a collaborative ministry by four Downtown Des Moines churches. The Bridge Meditations are part of the ministry of The Bridge which is working to enrich the lives of those working, living and visiting downtown Des Moines. Programs developed by The Bridge offer spiritual formation and development, professional counseling, holistic health and family support. The Connection Cafe is a Bridge ministry whichprovides a free mid-day meal five days per week. The Connection Cafe is located next to the YWCA on Grand Avenue and is supported by many churches and civic organizations in its ministry. For more information, or to volunteer to help with The Bridge, The Connection Cafe or other Downtown Des Moines ministries contact Rob Hoover at 515-771-1481 or by email at theconnectioncafe@hotmail
Posted on: Sun, 13 Apr 2014 11:00:00 +0000
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