Reading for Today: Luke 19:28-39 RSV updated
“…the whole multitude of disciples began to praise God with a loud voice …saying
Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord” Luke 19:37-38
Some years ago, I read a biography of President Warren Wilson. Following the end of WW I, a huge victory parade was held in New York City. In that parade Wilson and his daughter rode in an open car. As they proceeded, the crowds erupted in cheers of appreciation for his actions during the war. His daughter turned to him and said “Daddy, how the crowds love you” to which he replied, “It only matters how they feel after the cheering stops.”
As we approach the last week of Lent let us recall that they very crowds of disciples [not to be confused with the 12 Apostles of his inner circle] cheered his entrance into Jerusalem. Five days later they are shouting to Pilate “Crucify him”. Faith during the good times of life is easy to live out. But faith when we are facing the hard challenges of living in the real world requires a deeper level of commitment. We live in very troubled times in our own world today where some supposed leaders are calling for violence in support of their thinking and Putin threatens the world with nuclear warfare. So, it behooves us to use this final week of the Lenten season to look deep inside ourselves to our commitment to be true disciples of the Christ and consider what we must do to witness to that commitment.
Reflections 