Wednesday’s Thoughts
“He rode a horse that had never been ridden”
I think that one line in the Palm Sunday story has something in it that deserves our attention. It seems that most of our lives are spent riding horses we’ve ridden. When we go some place we repeat our previous journey. When we speak our lines in life we offer the same phrases and idioms. When we determine to travel we travel using the same means we had used before; the same car, the same airline, the same means of transportation.
It is interesting that Jesus rode a colt that had never been ridden. There are dangers in riding a colt that has never been ridden. They are the kind that buck, or hesitate, or give us the most trouble. They are also the fastest (potentially) and they are the ones who will be most loyal to us. They will get us where we need to go with the greatest sense of gratitude; with the idea that someone trusts in them to convey us.
Palm Sunday is a time for us to ride a horse we’ve never ridden. What does that mean?
1. We will do something we have never done before.
2. We will do something that is uncharacteristic to our general nature.
3. We will find a new way to do the same old things so that the old things take on new meanings.
4. We will awaken ourselves to life remembering that if we repeat ourselves we have perpetuated a fraud.
Lent calls for newness of spirit. Jesus rode a horse he had never ridden. He rode a donkey into Jerusalem and he came in on a humble beast of burden. It was not a war horse. It was not a conquest. It was a donkey. People questioned him. They thought no king would come riding in on a donkey. They didn’t understand that he was bringing about a different kind of Kingdom; his Kingdom was not of this earth.
What will you ride into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday? What word will you speak on Palm Sunday? Will it be a horse you’ve ridden before or will Holy Week be completely unique this year?
If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have other people read your thoughts click on the “comments” box below. I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
