“The laying down of cloaks offers us encouragement to give to Jesus what we have readily available in our hearts: acts of love, gratitude, praise, thoughtful gestures of service, that which we can offer Him at any given moment without consideration of past failures or possible future infidelities. Now is the acceptable time…Now.”
As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people responded to Him with what they had readily available, their cloaks. These they offered in a practical and symbolic way: laying them on the colt for Jesus to ride and spreading them on the path before Him.
In the practical sense, laying cloaks over the donkey for Jesus was a gesture of thoughtful reverential service. The back of a donkey, sweaty with a strong odor, would have been very unpleasant to ride on. The disciples were being attentive to making Jesus feel comfortable on the ride.
The laying of cloaks on the ground, however, served no practical purpose but was more symbolic. Spreading clothing to carpet a person’s path was a way to honor the person as royalty. It was a sign of laying one’s life down in homage and submission to a coming King. This is referenced in 2 Kings 9:13: When the people are aware that Jehu has been anointed king of Israel, “they all took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps; they sounded the trumpet and shouted, ‘Jehu is king!’
We learn from Jesus’ response to these gestures of service and homage that His heart receives what we offer Him…simply receives, even with His knowledge that the shouts of “hosanna” would turn to “crucify Him”.
The “laying down of cloaks” offers us encouragement to give to Jesus what we have readily available in our hearts: acts of love, gratitude, praise, thoughtful gestures of service, that which we can offer Him at any given moment without consideration of past failures or possible future infidelities. Now is the acceptable time…Now.
By Sister Emma Luz, OCD – This reflection appears here with the king permission of the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles.
Image credit: “Entry of Christ into Jerusalem” by Anthony van Dyck | Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
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