Coming to Jerusalem

Luke 19:28-40 

He comes to Jerusalem

carrying victory,

not by military power

or brute force, but

with a power not

of this world. He’s

seated upon a colt,

an unridden colt,

a young donkey. 

People wave palms

in welcome, disciples

throw their cloaks

upon the road

in front of him,

people shout their

hosannas, sing their

praises. Excitement

bubbles at the entry

of the king, the king

who comes in peace,

the power of peace,

the triumph of sacrifice.

No king will ever love

his people more, 

the king who brings

peace between,

peace among,

peace within.

 

Photograph by Brady Leavell via Unsplash, Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

“The book that reads you,” poem by Jill Pelaez Baumgaertner – D.S. Martin at Kingdom Poets.

 

Does It Matter if the Tide is Turning? – O. Alan Noble at You Are Not Your Own.

 

The Free Exercise of Religion – Kit Swartz at Gentle Reformation.

 

“The Spacious Firmament on High,” hymn by John Greenleaf Whitter – Anthony Esolen at Word & Song.

 

The Secular Liturgy of ‘Goodnight, Moon’ – Dan Olson at The Gospel Coalition.

 

“Autumn,” poem by John Clare – Sally Thomas at Poems Ancient and Modern.

 

Cloaks and / or palms

After Luke 19:28-40 

Four accounts of the entry,

generally aligned in the basic

details, the account of the colt

and the owner’s reaction,

traveling from the village

to the city, the welcome

by the people, the hailing

and recognition of the king,

the concern of the religious

(sensing the reaction 

of the rulers and overlords).

Yet there is one difference,

one significant difference

among the four. Three say

the people spread their cloaks,

tamping down the dust,

honoring the king. One says

they waved branches of palms,

giving the name to history.

The one is written 

by the disciple whom

he loved. Had the naming

been by democratic vote,

the decision would have

been 3 to 1 

for Cloak Sunday.

 

Photograph by Bahador via Unsplash. Used with permission.

The unridden colt

After Luke 19:28-40 

It’s still young, but

the unridden colt

has been waiting

for a particular

moment, a time

when it would be

called upon

for a specific use,

unique in history,

a one-time event

never before seen,

never since repeated,

a ride like no other,

a short distance,

uncomplicated,

to carry a man from

a village to a city.

The distance is

short; the impact

of that ride 

of that man

reverberates

through history,

forever.

 

Photograph by Benjamin Voros via Unsplash. Used with permission.