Enter into Jerusalem
We enter into Jerusalem in what would be the final week of Jesus of Nazareth’s eartly life, in St Mark’s Gospel, from Chapters 11 to 15. As we progress through the week we will reflect on select themes of this Holy Week. Today we start with his triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
Pope Benedict points out that this entry is a culmination of a physical ascent from the Sea of Galilee 690 feet below sea level to Jerusalem 2500 feet above sea level. This physical ascent points to an inner ascent into God’s presence for the pilgrims who accompany Jesus.
This entry is one of joyful hope and Jesus’ preparations reinforce this. He enters from Bethphage and Bethany to the Mount of Olives, the place from which the Messiah was expected to enter. He requisitions transport as the right of kings. Yet he chooses a donkey to fulfill Zechariah 9:9 ‘Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey…’
The disciples and the pilgims lay their garments on the donkey and on the path as a gesture of enthronement in the tradition of King David. They pluck branches and cry our verses from Psalm 118 ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ All point to Jesus entering into Jerusalem as the promised Messiah.
To internalize the feelings of joyful hope in the hearts of the pilgrims, we reflect on times in our own lives and that of family members when we/they entered a situation with joyful hope. We think of times when we entered into a new job at a place of work, a new neighbourhood, a new relationship, a new ministry or we started a new entrepreneurial enterprise. We were filled with joyful hope for the journey ahead.
Often this new enterprise challenges us to make both a physical and internal ascent. It is a challenge for our entire being - mind, body, emotions and soul. Like pilgrims we are called climb that mountain that is before us. To make this climb we need faith and hope. A belief that this is our calling.
Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem teaches us a profound lesson of courage for our own lives. There are times when we receive a calling, a message, a call of vocation to a deeper more intimate relationship with Jesus, through a new venture or a new enterprise. As we think of the climb ahead, the time required, the effort, we may lose courage and take an easier path. Jesus didn’t, he faced up to his vocation, his ministry the mission to Build the Kingdom of God on earth.
As pilgrims he comes to us and takes us up with him in his ascent into the definitive Jerusalem, that is growing in the world.
How can we face up to our vocation at each life stage with joyful hope and the determination to climb the moutain that is before us? Abba, through our Lord Jesus Christ, please give us the grace, courage and patience to embrace our vocation within the bigger mission of Building the Kingdom of God on earth.