It might be unusual to think of the Lord as having needs. Yet this is the very thing Jesus invites his disciples to ponder and act upon as he begins his week of passionate suffering. As we enter Holy Week, we may feel led to reflect on his needs, our own, and the needs in our world. How might we be present to one another (God to us and us to God) as we consider needs? We might notice how we want to share in the pain and suffering of those very needy places together.
Go slow and gentle in your prayer. You might begin with grounding yourself in God’s love. From this place of unfailing love you may feel a sense of safety enabling you to share your most vulnerable needs together with God. The Holy Spirit accompanies you in this place of relational intimacy with God.
Luke 19:28-40 (NLT)
After telling this story, Jesus went on toward Jerusalem, walking ahead of his disciples. As he came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead. “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying that colt?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
So they went and found the colt, just as Jesus had said. And sure enough, as they were untying it, the owners asked them, “Why are you untying that colt?”
And the disciples simply replied, “The Lord needs it.” So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on.
As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.
“Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”
But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”
For Reflection and Prayer:
As you listened to the text, was there a word, phrase or image which caught your attention? Gently repeat the word or phrase, giving it room to settle deeply in your heart.
Reflect on what you heard. Relish the words. Notice how the word or words affected you. Which emotions stirred within you? Be with what is there for you. You might choose to journal about what you heard.
Respond to what you heard and reflected on in your prayer with God. Is there a prayer which rises within you?
Rest in God as you simply be and entrust yourself to God in the quiet.
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