By Steve Veazey, president of Community of Christ

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near…

[Excerpted from “Be a Donkey for Jesus,” Mar/Apr 2020 Herald, p. 21]

I’ve heard a lot of Palm Sunday services. But one of the most memorable is a sermon I heard when I was serving as apostle in Africa.

After a series of long flights that took most of three days, I finally arrived in Chingola, Zambia. Though fatigued, I decided to attend the church services that night at a local congregation.

The lively singing and dancing kept me awake, but when the preaching started, I began to feel the effects of jet lag. I focused on the speaker, although I did not understand his language.

As the speaker preached, he became more animated and passionate. Sitting next to me was my friend, Bunda Chibwe. Bunda began to chuckle, and then a deep laugh rumbled from him. I asked what the preacher was talking about.

“Well, my friend, he is telling the story of Palm Sunday and about Jesus riding the donkey into Jerusalem like a king.” I thought that was all very well, but not necessarily funny, so I asked, “What is so humorous?”

“Well, my friend, the main point of his sermon is that we should all be donkeys for Jesus and take him wherever he needs to go!”

That struck me as funny and a great point at the same time. As disciples of Jesus, are we content to be in the crowd of well-wishers cheering him on, or are we committed to going with him all the way to the cross and beyond?

As disciples of Jesus, are we willing to take the message and vision of Jesus to the places and into the lives of those who most desperately need his ministry of compassionate hope and healing?

Now that I think about it, the preacher was right: We are all called to do what we can to get Jesus where he is needed most!

Prayer Phrase

“…I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Spiritual Practice

Open Hands

Stand or sit with your hands extended in front of you. Prayerfully ponder all that you hold in your hands that make you feel too full, busy, drained, or closed. Spread your hands up and apart to release these burdens; then hold them open and empty them again. Thank God for relationships that fill and feed your spirit. Pray for a generous heart and open hands that reach out to make room for all in the circle of Christ’s community.

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.