W E Sangster has a sermon about the donkey Jesus rode upon in his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Donkeys don't have 'presence' do they? They are awkward, obstinate beasts. If someone calls you an 'ass' it is not usually a term of endearment! Whoever heard of a conqueror riding in triumph on an donkey? Read: John 12:12-19. Crowds come with Jesus, and meet more crowds coming out of the city, in the kind of welcome usually given to a head of state or a conqueror. (These days a ticker-tape welcome greets those triumphant in war on either the battle-field or the sporting field!). The palm branches are symbols of triumph. The crowds hail the messiah-king with the words of Psalm 118:25,26, normally used by priests to welcome pilgrims on their way up to the holy city. Riding on an ass fulfilled Zechariah's prophecy (9:9) and was Jesus' signal that he had not come to be a warrior-king, but as Israel's king of peace. 'Look how the whole world has gone after him' were more words spoken by those bearing witness to a truth greater than they knew. Meditate: Whatever Christ touches - even a donkey - he dignifies. He uses ordinary people, the poorly-educated, the 'handicapped', those the rest of society might scorn or spurn or despise. Think of them - Ruth, a foreigner; Rahab, a harlot; Matthew, a tax-collector; John Mark, a missionary drop-out...

Think about your excuses... and say at the end of your meditation: 'Jesus loves even me!' Amen.