Year A
Lent
Liturgy of the Passion
Contextual Background:
Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey to cries of “Hosanna.” By week’s end, he is betrayed, denied, tried, and crucified. The crowd shifts from praise to condemnation; Rome and religious authorities join to silence him.
Within the Jewish Tradition:
Zechariah envisioned a humble king riding a donkey, bringing peace. Passover remembered God’s deliverance from Egypt. Jesus embodies both — liberation through humility, not violence.
This passage evokes the procession to cleanse the temple after the Greeks defiled it.
The Challenge Then:
The challenge was to see that Messiahship meant suffering love, not triumphal conquest.
The Challenge Now:
We still want kings who dominate. The religio of power seduces us. Jesus rides humbly, suffers unjustly, forgives enemies, and entrusts himself to God.
We want, often, a religion that dominates. A family member of mine said that he wasnt’ a supremacist, but he thought Jesus was.
Implications for Leaders & Communities:
- Leaders: resist triumphalism; model humility, vulnerability, learning, and courage.
- Communities: walk with Jesus in both Hosanna and crucify, practicing fidelity amid pressure.
What I Am Learning:
True kingship is revealed in humble service and suffering love. This isn’t easy. It is the ultimate act of courage.
The Question I’m Sitting With:
How can I follow Jesus with integrity when the crowd shifts and the cost of discipleship rises?
