For Jesus, entering Jerusalem signifies the approach of the completion of his work. During the years of his public ministry, he proclaimed the Kingdom, called disciples, and healed many in body and spirit. Now the time is fulfilled: he enters the city that kills the prophets. His identity and his message are fully revealed, and not without consequences.

The episode begins with a strange command Jesus gives to his disciples concerning a tethered donkey and colt that must be untied because “the Lord needs them.” The image of this colt carrying Jesus can be a source of reflection for us. It is specified that it is tied and that the disciples must untie it.

What Christ takes is neither stolen nor meant to be possessed (in fact, “he will send them back immediately”), but rather becomes a means for Jesus to love humanity. To be instruments of Christ, one cannot remain tied down or be bound by idols or masters.

So it is with us: when the Lord calls us, it is not to take possession of our lives, but to free us from the chains that bind us, so that we may “bring” him to the world each according to his or her own vocation in humility, as free people.

Jesus enters Jerusalem fulfilling the prophecies, eliciting jubilation and blessings from the crowd, who spread their cloaks as if for the investiture of a king. He enters the city without the insignia of power, on a donkey, confusing those who awaited a warrior Messiah. He is “the one who comes in the name of the Lord”: he comes in the name of God, as the Son, not in his own name.

Jesus’ entrance stirs the city, creating something like an earthquake: it is the ferment of history reaching its fullness, every tension reaching its maximum intensity. Some expect him to incite a riot; the Pharisees are already plotting to kill him. The rabbi of Nazareth, on a humble mount, is the King: welcomed, misunderstood, and betrayed, he will shrink from nothing not even death to reveal the true face of the Father and show that another life is possible.

QUESTIONS FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION:

Am I good? How do I examine my actions? Do I do what I think is right, or do I seek guidance from my community?
Can I perceive God’s action in the lives of others? What garment can I lay aside? What branch should I wave?
Can I humble myself like Christ in serving others? What are the seeds of life that are sprouting and unfolding in my life?
Who am I, and where do I find myself in this crowd?
Can our communities be bearers of peace among their people, or do they close themselves off in fear and suspicion of others who come to meet us, as Jerusalem did?
What words of hope do I need to hear in order to truly share this joy?
What is my hope as a (consecrated) woman—for myself, for the excluded, for the Church, and for the world?
What words of hope can I offer to broken hearts?

Wishing you a blessed and meaningful preparation for Easter!