00:00:08:09 - 00:00:33:02 Unknown When was the last time you were in a big crowd? Did you feel comfortable? I'm not particularly tall, so crowds very quickly become quite overwhelming. Being pressed into other people and being unable to see what's happening beyond the immediate part of the crowd. If you put yourself into the gospel reading, this is the kind of experience you are looking at. 00:00:33:04 - 00:01:02:04 Unknown We know the story of Palm Sunday. We can easily imagine the donkey with Jesus riding through the city, and we know who Jesus is. We know he is the Messiah, the Son of God. But none of this would have been obvious to those in the crowd. Even in the brief account in Matthew's Gospel, you can hear the uncertainty over who exactly this is and why all the fuss. 00:01:02:07 - 00:01:29:21 Unknown Eventually, the crowd decide that Jesus is a prophet. It's a reasonable conclusion to draw when you have only part of the story. But we know he is more than just a prophet. Across the diocese this Palm Sunday, there will be many services with outdoor processions, with or without a donkey in attendance. The donkey is our reminder of the humility of Jesus. 00:01:29:23 - 00:02:10:09 Unknown Although donkeys are beautiful creatures, they don't inspire awe and their smaller stature and gait means it's hard to look truly dignified while riding. And this, of course, was the point. Jesus was making a deliberate choice in this mode of entry to Jerusalem. He was deliberately avoiding the more military associations of a horse. And for those who know their Scripture, harking back to that passage in the prophet Zechariah, where it is foretold that a king will arrive humble and on a donkey. As with many of the actions of Jesus, there is ambiguity in how it can be perceived. 00:02:10:15 - 00:02:45:09 Unknown Yes, he's humble, but he's also determined to fulfill his destiny. The Church of England is good at spectacle and large scale ceremonial events. It's sometimes hard to see the core of humility, despite the repeated assertion that we are working towards a Church which is simpler, humbler and bolder. This week we've seen the new Archbishop of Canterbury installed in a service with thousands of people and multiple robed processions amid the splendour and glorious music. 00:02:45:14 - 00:03:25:02 Unknown The most important words were spoken at the door to local children. In answer to the question, “who are you? And why do you request entry?” The new archbishop replied, “I am Sarah, a servant of Jesus Christ, and I come as one seeking the grace of God to travel with you in his service together.” This is the core of humility for Archbishop Sarah, and for each of us in our Christian discipleship, to remember that no matter what we're wearing or what role we fulfill, we are all servants of Jesus Christ. 00:03:25:04 - 00:04:01:24 Unknown As we prepare for Holy Week, may we all find our identity in Jesus the King riding on a donkey. The man prepared for a claim or accusation. May we continue to serve him and worship him wherever we are, whether in a crowd gathered as two or three, together or alone. I pray that as you travel towards and through Holy Week, you will be blessed with a renewed understanding of Jesus as the humble King, the Saviour, the Son of God. 00:04:01:27 - 00:04:09:10 Unknown And I pray that you will know the grace of God and find ways to travel with others in God's service.