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Providence Spirituality

Gospel of March 24, 2024 according to John 12:12-16

On the next day, when the great crowd that had come to the feast, heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took palm branches and went out to meet him and cried out: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, [even] the king of Israel.” Jesus found an ass and sat upon it, as is written: “Fear no more, O daughter Zion; see, your king comes, seated upon an ass’s colt.” His disciples did not understand this at first, but when Jesus had been glorified, they remembered that these things were written about him and that they had done this for him.

Reflection on the Gospel  of March 24, 2024 –

Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John 12:12-16 –

Growing up in rural America, the highlight of the summer was the 4th of July parade in the adjacent small town.  There were marching bands, fire engines, police motorcycle units and everyone waving flags.  Following the parade, people gathered for the town’s raspberry festival. Friends connected and new people were met.

As I read this scripture passage, I thought of Jesus Coming into Jerusalem for the biggest Jewish holiday – Passover. He was coming from Bethany and as he approached Jerusalem, he saw people lined up along the roadside waiting to welcome him with palm branches in their hands and shouts of acclamation.  The carrying of palm branches was a traditional feature of public expressions of triumph and joy.  There was a sense of royalty.

Jesus was aware of this.  But he transforms  the nature of the entry by finding a colt and sitting on it.  By doing this he turns his entry into Jerusalem into the fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophesy: “Look, your king is coming sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

Jesus was always in control of his life. He would not allow them to make him king. He knows what lies ahead for him in Jerusalem.  They will not take his life; he will freely give it.

Yet knowing this, he is not focused on it, but rather on the present moment, on all of these people who have come out to honor him and he gives them his full attention by being fully present to the moment. He is not looking ahead to the future or the past. He is loving them totally right where He is.

Sister Jean Schultz, SP