(L,M,P)B...
Illustration
(L,M,P)
I remember the opening scene of the wonderful film, "The Parable." The circus is going by with all its pomp and noise -- the calliope, the elephants, the big cats, the spangled ladies on horseback, the red-coated ringmaster. Finally, behind all the noise and hoopla, rides a very quiet clown, all in white, on a donkey so little the clown's feet nearly touch the ground That movie has a lot of lessons to teach (and would be a good one to show around this time of year) but that image sticks with me in the Palm/Passion Sunday readings.
Into Jerusalem, which had witnessed the clash and thunder of so many conquests, had felt the crushing weight of countless horses and chariots, rides one single man on a little donkey colt, "... and he shall command peace to the nations." How ironic that this simple ride should in the end prove more enduring than all the armies that ever stormed Jerusalem's gate. How wonderful that the peace he commanded is more powerful than all the weapons of war ever wrought.
Just as the circus was profoundly changed by the simple acts of the clown, so the balance of power in this world has been forever tipped by the presence of Jesus toward peace, mercy, and justice, and away from war, hatred, and inequity. The change is not always apparent in day-to-day life -- but the Christian knows it is so and rejoices.
- Shearburn
I remember the opening scene of the wonderful film, "The Parable." The circus is going by with all its pomp and noise -- the calliope, the elephants, the big cats, the spangled ladies on horseback, the red-coated ringmaster. Finally, behind all the noise and hoopla, rides a very quiet clown, all in white, on a donkey so little the clown's feet nearly touch the ground That movie has a lot of lessons to teach (and would be a good one to show around this time of year) but that image sticks with me in the Palm/Passion Sunday readings.
Into Jerusalem, which had witnessed the clash and thunder of so many conquests, had felt the crushing weight of countless horses and chariots, rides one single man on a little donkey colt, "... and he shall command peace to the nations." How ironic that this simple ride should in the end prove more enduring than all the armies that ever stormed Jerusalem's gate. How wonderful that the peace he commanded is more powerful than all the weapons of war ever wrought.
Just as the circus was profoundly changed by the simple acts of the clown, so the balance of power in this world has been forever tipped by the presence of Jesus toward peace, mercy, and justice, and away from war, hatred, and inequity. The change is not always apparent in day-to-day life -- but the Christian knows it is so and rejoices.
- Shearburn
