Palm Sunday

²⁸ After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
²⁹ When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, ³⁰ saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³¹ If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’” Luke 19:28-40

Throughout Lent we've been thinking about hunger, the poor, and poverty.  Where did Jesus fall on the socioeconomic scale while he was on earth?  Well, we know in terms of material possessions, he didn't have much.  He was largely provided for by others.  In last Sunday's lesson, he was fed at the home of Lazarus.  He stayed with others.  He traveled on foot.  In today's reading, as he approaches Jerusalem, he sends the disciples ahead to borrow a colt for his ride into Jerusalem.  He will eat the Passover meal in an "Upper Room" that an unnamed owner provided.  And yet, this man who had very little, was honored as a king as he rode into Jerusalem on the donkey.  Kings have palaces and horses and armies and  robes and servants!  Jesus had none of these, and yet they called him king.  Perhaps they hoped he would be this kind of powerful king and free them from the Roman occupation.  Perhaps some were honoring him for his compassion for the common people, those living on the fringe, the hungry and oppressed among them.  But soon we will see this "king" stripped of all power, arrested, and crucified.  He will be king, but his kingship will not be of this world. He will reign in heaven and on earth, saving  all people, rich and poor alike.