Monday, March 21, 2016

Palm Sunday Jesus/Pope choose their "mounts".







Palm Sunday    JESUS ENTERS JERUSALEM

I am amazed at the simple way that Jesus arranges for his parade into the holy city of Jerusalem.   He enlists two of his disciples to secure the mount on which he is to ride.  They are to go to a certain village and look for a tethered donkey.  The owner will let them take it.   Jesus instructs the two to say, “The Master needs it.”    



These details in the scripture tell us that Jesus is content to take part in a plan for a ceremonial entrance as long as he appears as a servant leader.  With certainty he makes a choice not to enter on horseback like a Roman conquerer.    



POPE FRANCIS IN PHILADELPHIA, SEPTEMBER 2015

Jesus provides a model for our contemporary Pope Francis who chooses the humble Fiat 500L to be his mount during his recent visit to the United States.  The armored secret service vans that surrounded the Pope’s Fiat in Philadelphia only make the symbol of simplicity clearer.    The Pope accepts his role as a servant leader.   He rides simply.   Later this week Pope Francis will be imitating Jesus as this Holy Week proceeds.  He will be washing the feet of the poor.

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