Journey with Christ through the foreign lands of his Passion during Holy Week with these powerful reflections and prayers.
Jesus shows us the true power of non-violence and love.
Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey.
There were perhaps two processions into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. New Testament scholars Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan suggest that as Jesus was entering the city of Jerusalem by the east gate, Pilate was entering by a different gate in another part of the city.
Pilate’s procession would have been a striking display of state and military power, with soldiers and war horses. A warning perhaps, as the people celebrated their liberation from oppression at Passover, that they should not resist Rome’s control.
By contrast, the carpenter’s son from Nazareth rides in on a borrowed donkey. Matthew reminds us that this is in fulfilment of Zechariah’s promise of the king in David’s line: the king who will come riding a colt and banish the weapons of war, proclaiming peace to the nations.
On his way to carry out the saving work of the cross, Jesus once again shows the true power of non-violence and love. As we enter Holy Week and prepare to journey with Jesus in his final days, may we, through our holy lives, seek to bring God’s healing and reconciliation to our world.
Prayer
Humble Saviour,
walk with us this Holy Week,
and grant us the grace and courage
to walk with you.
Amen.
Act
This Holy Week, use our powerful Way of the pilgrim reflections to journey with Christ through the foreign lands of his Passion.