Humility

Tell me what it means to you to call him Lord.
Anthony de Mello

Christ's entry into Jerusalem, Hippolyte Flandrin, 1842

Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”  Matthew 21:5

Entitlement and humility

It feels like Jesus is making another poignant statement, a wordless gesture.  Jesus fully accepts and knows who he is and the crowd's body language echo that conviction. To and for this King, the throne, mitre and robes are a donkey and its foal, and his crown will be one of thorns. His prior instruction not to Lord it over one another* is reinforced by this personal, striking and authentic illustration.

The whole series of lenten gestures attempts to overturn popular, often unhelpful and, in some cases self-serving, notions of God and therefore for life.  The gestures visually underline his words and provide a memorable and meditative vehicle for those who would follow him.

*Luke 22, Mark10, Matthew 20 carried on by Paul and Peter in 2 Corinthians 1:24 and 1 Peter 5:3 respectively