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Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion - Reflection with Fr Robin Gibbons


25th March 2018

Christ "humbled himself,
becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
that is above every name." (Phil 2:8-9)


We enter into Holy Week through the triumphal gate of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, a dramatic entrance in the company of Jesus, who comes not in the trappings of power and majesty, weighed down with brocaded garments, armour, shield and the panoply of a warrior but in the simplicity of poverty. This King has no conquering army to accompany him, nor a court full of officials and ambassadors only crowds of people going before and after him on the way. This King rides no warhorse but only travels with a mother donkey and its male colt, an image of humility and of dependency on others.

The image of the two animals is subtle but also haunting. They come with Jesus to the culmination of all he has worked, preached and lived for. Now his message and his love will be revealed in all its starkness. The words from Philippians 2 about Jesus taking on the likeness of a slave also means that as with every living creature he too must die: "he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. (Phil 2:8)

In other words his identification with the poorest and least of all is complete, he too becomes dependent, the Word made flesh takes on death for us!

That is why the image of the colt and its mother is so poignant this Palm Sunday, for in my mind they represent in so many ways the unfortunates of our world, those put upon, ignored, used and abused. Yes, I can be accused of being sentimental, but I defy anybody to look at the terrible way we humans treat our animals particularly those beasts of burden, our companions in hard work, the donkeys. They have never had an easy existence for we have treated them abominably at times, some kept deep in mines all their lives, beaten, deprived of food, working until they drop even today. What an image of humble suffering they represent. And yet, on this day in the week we call Holy, their place in paradise and salvation is assured, for unlike so many of the powerful ones, this colt and this donkey are remembered with gratitude and honour down the ages.


In the ancient Middle East, rulers rode horses if they went to war, but donkeys if they came in peace. So Jesus, rather than riding to conquer, enters Jerusalem in peace. Since his colt had never been ridden, or even sat upon, its dependence upon its mother would be understandable. So Jesus' entry into Jerusalem would have been that much easier for the colt if the mother donkey were led beside him on the same road. Perhaps we can pause here, let that simple image of these animals and Christ work into our prayer and imagination this week. We are never alone for Christ travels with us, but we also need that touch of supportive love, the presence of the 'donkeys' of our lives, those on whom we are dependent, who shoulder our burdens and walk on with us too, yes animals and humans both. May our prayer this Holy Week be as this:

" Let me come with these donkeys, Lord, into your land,
These beasts who bow their heads so gently, and stand
With their small feet joined together in a fashion
Utterly gentle, asking your compassion".
Amen.

(From a poem by Francis Jammes d 1938: A Prayer to go to Heaven with the Donkeys)

Lectio Divina
Zechariah 9:9-10

The Coming King of Zion

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
and the war horse from Jerusalem;
and the battle bow shall be cut off,
and he shall speak peace to the nations;
his rule shall be from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.

G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936)
The Donkey

When fishes flew and forests walked
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
Then surely I was born;

With monstrous head and sickening cry
And ears like errant wings,
The devil's walking parody
On all four-footed things.

The tattered outlaw of the earth,
Of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,
I keep my secret still.

Fools! For I also had my hour;
One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout about my ears,
And palms before my feet.


Fr Robin Gibbons is an Eastern Rite Catholic Chaplain for the Melkites in the UK. He is also an Ecumenical Canon of Christ Church, Oxford.

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