God’s Unpredictable Approach
- davidwperk
- Feb 17
- 6 min read
Devotional Reflection, Monday, February 17, 2025
Monday of the sixth week after the Epiphany
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:
7Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. 8Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
‘Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
10Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!’
11 Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
You will find the full text of this Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 948)
AM Psalm 89:1-18; PM Psalm 89:19-52
Isa. 63:1-6; 1 Tim. 1:1-17; Mark 11:1-11
Today we celebrate the Feast of Janani Luwum. (See below.)
David's Reflections
C. S. Lewis once said: "We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God. The world is crowded with God. God (He) walks everywhere incognito. And the incognito is not always hard to penetrate. The real labour is to remember, to attend. In fact, to come awake. Still more, to remain awake."+
Today’s Gospel raises the question, “Just what does God's coming to us resemble? How does God move toward us?” Jesus chose this unique way to enter the city, riding a donkey. What was he trying to communicate about God? About himself? All my life, I've heard that God takes the initiative, makes the first move, as Lewis says above. But, just what does that look like? How will I recognize God's grace? Is there a chance I might miss it? It appears many missed Jesus on this day.
Jesus' entry into Jerusalem (what we call the triumphal entry) has some of the marks of a staged event. The biblical prophets often communicated their message by means of symbolic acts, they not only spoke their message, they acted it out. We see that especially with Jeremiah and Ezekiel (See Jeremiah 27-28; Ezekiel 5). Here, Jesus enters the city riding a donkey, not exactly the entry of a political and military liberator.
Zechariah 9:9 describes the messianic king coming to his coronation riding on a donkey, and that king would not liberate by military might; rather, he would be a gentle servant-shepherd. Jesus’ means of entry seems intended to say that his role as messianic liberator would not be political and military; rather, he would deliver from sin, sickness, brokenness, and death; he would be the gentle shepherd king of Zechariah's vision. His miracles and parables all had pointed in that direction.
How does this speak to us? Perhaps it means that we do not find the voice of Jesus in militaristic rhetoric, in international power politics, in competitive striving to prevail over others, in the drive to accumulate and hoard wealth and possessions. Rather, we will hear the voice of Jesus in the starving children of Africa, in the broken elderly woman in a nursing facility, in the health relief worker in the Sudan, in the gentle reconciling language of a counselor or mediator.
George Caird once observed about the cross of Christ: “. . . the victories of God over all the forces in the universe which are resistant to his will are to be won, not by the thunderbolts of coercive might, but by the persuasive constraints of self-sacrificing love.”*
+C. S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer. (London: Geoffrey Bless, 1964), pp. 100-101.
*G. B. Caird, The Language and Imagery of the Bible (London: Duckworth, 1980), p. 242.
Collect of the Day, Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 236)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Janani Luwum, archbishop and martyr (died 16 Feb 1977 CE).
Collect of the Feast of Janani Luwum
O God, whose Son the Good Shepherd laid down his life for his sheep: We give you thanks for your faithful shepherd, Janani Luwum, who after his Savior’s example gave up his life for the sake of his flock. Grant us to be so inspired by his witness that we make no peace with oppression, but live as those who are sealed with the cross of Christ, who died and rose again, and now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A Collect for the Renewal of Life
O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 99)
Of the Holy Spirit
Almighty and most merciful God, grant that by the indwelling of your Holy Spirit we may be enlightened and strengthened for your service; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 251)
A Prayer for Light
Almighty God, we give you thanks for surrounding us, as daylight fades, with the brightness of the vesper light; and we implore you of your great mercy that, as you enfold us with the radiance of this light, so you would shine into our hearts the brightness of your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 110)
A Collect for Mission
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100, 257)
Daily Office Gospel, Mark 11:1-11
11:1When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2and said to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. 3If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” just say this, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.”’ 4They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, 5some of the bystanders said to them, ‘What are you doing, untying the colt?’ 6They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. 7Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. 8Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
‘Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
10Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!’
11 Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
Comments