The Gospel for THURSDAY, June 9, 2005 (St. Columba)
Luke 19:28-40
When he had said this he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. Now it happened that when he was near Bethphage and Bethany, close by the Mount of Olives as it is called, he sent two of the disciples, saying, ‘Go to the village opposite, and as you enter it you will find a tethered colt that no one has ever yet ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” you are to say this, “The Master needs it.” ’ The messengers went off and found everything just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners said, ‘Why are you untying it?’ and they answered, ‘The Master needs it.’ So they took the colt to Jesus and, throwing their cloaks on its back, they lifted Jesus on to it. As he moved off, they spread their cloaks in the road, and now, as he was approaching the downward slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole group of disciples joyfully began to praise God at the top of their voices for all the miracles they had seen. They cried out: Blessed is he who is coming as King in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heavens! Some Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Master, reprove your disciples,’ but he answered, ‘I tell you, if these keep silence, the stones will cry out.’ -- The New Jerusalem Bible. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1995, c1985
Talking Rocks
While the gospel attributed to Matthew alone has the disciples fetching both a donkey and her colt, this text alone has Jesus' exclamation about the stones crying out if His disciples were made to be silent. This flavor to the story adds an emotional depth to the passionate feelings of the crowd supporting Jesus. It is a literary device that adds zest to the text, perhaps to help the principally Greek audience understand the disciples' human side in the buildup to the events that would subsequently cause their abandonment of Jesus.
A Reflection
This crowd, who in Matthew are singing "Hosanna to the Son of David," are just as pumped up here as they are in the other three gospel stories describing the event. The minor differences in the stories cannot overwhelm the underlying fact that there was a crowd waiting for Jesus as he approached Jerusalem, and they were excited!
To see a crowd whipped up like this, I'd have to go to a rock concert or a political rally. I can't think of other venues in which this kind of positive crowd frenzy is seen. The rock star is just popular. Some might follow a rock star in a non-musical sense, but (aside from their political involvement) it's not frequent enough to have made a dent in my memory.
On the other hand, memories of recorded political rallies from Hitler to the latest US elections show a deep emotional investment in the political process and candidates. Late popes have managed to acquire some of the same luster, but not quite the whole package.
So why did the crowds drop Jesus like a hot potato after he had been tried before the Temple kangaroo court and the Roman prefect, and been sentenced to death? He had lost his political clout. There was no more hope in following Him toward a military victor over the oppressive landlords and Romans.
I suspect that each of us has gone through the experience of burning bright for Jesus, and then finding out that what Jesus offers is not what was lighting us up. What comes through experience in the world and experience in living with Jesus is that we are always left to our own devices and desires, unless we seek Jesus' counsel.
The bright burning can come back in moments of spiritual "highs." That's the Good News, I think. But patience and the Breath of the Holy Spirit, working through us, are required to keep the embers glowing the rest of the time. And even then, we have to allow the Spirit, consciously, into our hearts.
Otherwise, we're left watching the rear end of the donkey, wondering where Jesus went.
The Collect
O God, who by the preaching of your blessed servant Columba caused the light of the Gospel to shine in Scotland: Grant, we pray, that, having his life and labors in remembrance, we may show our thankfulness to you by following the example of his zeal and patience; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
5:31:26 PM 
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