A Humble Walk

A Humble Walk – Today is Palm Sunday. Through Lent we have been considering what we can do to “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly,” and our focus is now on “walk humbly.” The script is the Markan version of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, and we celebrate that with our own palm branches waving as we sing “Hosanna!” We know the scene was of a triumphant Jesus being welcomed and hailed as the long-awaited king. But we also know, as Jesus must have known, that he was about to face trial and crucifixion. Although the Gospel account of this entry is of much celebration, Jesus does not speak a word, and he is riding on a mere donkey colt. Even if he knows what is coming, he also knows that God is with him, so he can ride and walk humbly. That grounding in and identification with God allows him to speak for God in cleansing the temple shortly thereafter. We, too, are grounded as creatures of God, created in the image of God, and we are called to walk humbly with God, and also to love mercy and do justice. Our example in all of this is Jesus.