Dear Brothers and Sisters,

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, which we read before the procession of palms, the Bible states, “When the crowd saw Jesus riding on a donkey, they shouted God bless the King of Israel!”

And what was the meaning of the event? Oddly enough, the key to the answer lies in the donkey Jesus was riding. Our modern notion of a donkey is not a very flattering one. We regard the donkey as a stupid animal and make fun of it. However, in biblical times people held the donkey in high regard.

The donkey was an animal of peace, as opposed to the horse, which was an animal of war and violence. Horses carried soldiers into battle and to death.

Zechariah prophesied that the Messiah they were expecting was not a political messiah, nor was he a leader like David. They were expecting a Messiah who would catapult Israel into a position of international power and prestige. In other words, Jesus’ action of riding into Jerusalem on an animal of peace, delivers just the opposite message of what many people expected.

Jesus makes it clear that he didn’t come to sit on a throne. He has not come to be served by others, but to serve them. He has come to kneel on the floor and wash the feet of his disciples. Jesus has come to rally them behind him and do battle against poverty, hunger, hatred and all forms of injustice.

Jesus hasn’t come to destroy people’s dreams. He has come to fulfill them in the most wonderful way imaginable. He has come to forgive them and teach them how to live and love.

It is this Jesus we greet today. It is this Jesus who wants to enter our hearts in a special way in this Holy Week ahead.

It is this Jesus who is in our midst right now as we celebrate this very special event in the life of Jesus. Let us rejoice and sing with Christians everywhere, “Hosanna in the highest.”

Have a Blessed Holy Week,
Deacon Del