Untethered

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Untethered

Triumphant     Entry

Acclaiming     Praising     Aloud

Stones Will Cry Out

Jerusalem

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Luke 19: 28-30; 35-40

Jesus continued traveling to Jerusalem.

As He came to Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples.

He told them, "Enter the village opposite you, and as you go in you will find a colt tethered on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here."  

They brought the colt to Jesus and put their cloaks over it and helped Jesus get on.

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the people were spreading their cloaks on the road.

As Jesus was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives, the entire crowd of His disciples started to praise God aloud with joy for all the powerful deeds they had witnessed.

They were saying, "Blessed is the king who comes in the Lord's name. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest."

Some of the Pharisees who were there said to Jesus, "Teacher, tell your disciples to stop saying this."

Jesus said in reply, "I say to you, if they are silenced, the stones will cry out."

Reflection

In our reading from Luke, Jesus makes an unusual request. Jesus asks two of His disciples to go into the local town and untether a colt for His use.

The disciples must have wondered about this but they obeyed and helped Jesus get on the colt as He came into Jerusalem. The crowd acclaimed Jesus as a king.

This scripture challenges us to untether our faith as well. It calls us to walk more completely with Him.

The symbol of the tethered colt reminds us what following Jesus is all about. It can be easy and comfortable to step back from difficult issues. We can take the attitude of not wanting to offend others who might feel differently.

An example comes to mind when we think of environmental issues. Pope Francis has spoken out clearly about the importance for us as a society to confront the damage that has been done to our air, water, and soil.

Pope Francis calls all of us to an "ecological conversion" to tackle the complex issue of climate change. Many do not accept this and have spoken out against Pope Francis.

When we follow Jesus and "untether the colt", it can take us into difficult situations. Jesus knew that the Jerusalem He was entering was a place full of danger for Him.

Jesus, riding on that untethered colt, tells these Pharisees that He will not silence the disciples. If He tried to do this, the very stones would cry out---all of creation reflects the glory of Jesus.

Jesus is not afraid to confront those who might disagree with Him or who do not accept His message. He does this in a peaceful way as the disciples acknowledge in their acclamation.

Kathy's photo invites us to embrace that way and to soar higher. Our colts can also be untethered.

Enjoy the ride!

1. How can you untether your faith?

2. How do you deal with those challenging situations where you might offend others by taking a stance to follow Jesus more completely? 

3. What do you feel as you contemplate Kathy's photo?