I walk humbly with God

​On Palm Sunday, we remember Jesus entering Jerusalem, sat on the foal of a donkey, a colt. It is a fascinating story, reaching us at many levels, when explored a little more deeply.
​

Jesus was entering from the east, quietly, without any fuss. At least I would suggest, that was his intent, even if the Gospels write of people shouting, celebrating and placing palm trees and coats on the ground as he came. The Gospels are reflecting Zechariah 9:9: “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

Yet I believe Jesus’ intent was to ride in quietly, not making a fuss. He was not striving to be their king and ruler, something he repeatedly expressed.
 
At the same time, the Romans were entering Jerusalem through the West Gate, with golden armour and trumpets blaring – expressing all the pomp and circumstance one can imagine. Their intent? To show the Jewish people that they were in charge and nothing was greater than their power and authority. It would have been quite a sight, yet expressing the polar opposite of Jesus’ entry. This is the point, of course. Their entry was all about the grandness of the ego: The need to be in charge, seen as great and powerful. Where Jesus was showing meekness and humility.
 
As I reflect on the story, Jesus’ entry was not, ‘here I am’. Instead, he reflects the energy of God working through a man who always described God as the doer and he simply the vehicle through which the God energy flowed. In Unity, we reflect this through our statement, “It is not I, but the Christ within, that does the work.”
 
Yet at the same time, Jesus said and knew, ‘The father and I are one.’ (John 10:30) Jesus found a way to speak with authority and clarity that truthfully, upset those in authority – they felt threatened, as the ego does when Truth shines brightly.
 
Personally, the message and story invites me to turn away from the ego-need of self- grandeur. To live instead with humility and authority, to know and share our oneness with God. For, just as Jesus taught, God is present in and with all of us. It is up to us to make this real for ourselves, right in the midst of the human challenges we experience daily.
 
Let us walk humbly with God, yet also with authority. We are all beloved in God’s sight.
 
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
                                                                                                                                     Micah 6:8
 
Rev Kimerie Mapletoft
Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK