Daniel Comboni
Comboni Missionaries
Institutional area
Other links
Newsletter
The Lord’s little colts
Monday, April 14, 2025
We began the Holy Week with the double celebration of Palm and Passion Sunday. The blessing of the branches at the beginning of the liturgy and the procession to the church recall Jesus’ royal entry into Jerusalem. This year, liturgically speaking, we are in the year C and so we read Luke’s Gospel.
The Syrian doctor from Antioch tells us that Jesus sent two disciples to release and bring back to him a colt that no one had ridden that was tied in the village opposite. To anyone who asked why, he told them to reply: “The Master needs it!”.
And so, they did.
“So, they took the colt to Jesus and, throwing their cloaks on its back, they lifted Jesus on to it. As he moved off, they spread their cloaks in the road. And now as he was approaching the downward slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole group of disciples joyfully began to praise God at the top of their voices for all the miracles they had seen. They cried out: Blessed is he who is coming as King in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heavens!” (Luke 19:35-38).
The short reading of the morning prayer explained the reason for Jesus’ choice, quoting Zechariah’s prophecy: “Rejoice heart and soul, daughter of Zion! Shout for joy, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is approaching; he is vindicated and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zachariah 9:9).
Jesus travelled down from Bethany to Jerusalem riding on a little donkey. A journey of perhaps half an hour.
This is our God: we call him omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent. But he appears unarmed, disempowered, humble, riding not a horse trained for war, but a modest colt. Vindicated and victorious, on his way to passion, death and resurrection, his paschal mystery. What a paradox!
Perhaps Jesus did not have much riding practice, because he had to be lifted him on the colt. But he needed it! And the help to mount it...
Today, he needs you and me to be his little colts. Even if we are bald, hunchbacked and toothless!
This time, it's not to go back into Jerusalem – there is no place for him there – but into the heart of every man and woman, of every person who is our partner in the human living.
You and I are the little colts that Jesus needs to enter today's Jerusalems, the life of every person loved and created by God.
We are the colts he needs when we proclaim with our lives and, if necessary, with our words, that Jesus is the King who comes in the name of the Lord, who is peace in heaven – and on earth – and glory in the highest, the Saviour and Lord.
Will you accept to be the Lord's little colt? I accepted!
A generous Holy Week!