Greensburg — Luke 19:28-40

28 “When Jesus had finished saying all this, he went on toward Jerusalem. 29 As he was getting near Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples on ahead. 30 He told them, “Go into the next village, where you will find a young donkey that has never been ridden. Untie the donkey and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks why you are doing that, just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’

32 “They went off and found everything just as Jesus had said. 33 While they were untying the donkey, its owners asked, ‘Why are you doing that?’

34 “They answered, ‘The Lord needs it.’

35 “Then they led the donkey to Jesus. They put some of their clothes on its back and helped Jesus get on. 36 And as he rode along, the people spread clothes on the road in front of him. 37 When Jesus was starting down the Mount of Olives, his large crowd of disciples were happy and praised God because of all the miracles they had seen. 38 They shouted, ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!  And Peace in heaven and glory to God.’

39 “Some Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, make your disciples stop shouting!’

40 “But Jesus answered, ‘If they keep quiet, these stones will start shouting.’”

Here we are at Palm Sunday. It doesn’t seem that long ago that we celebrated Christmas. I don’t know about you, but I am ready for Spring to arrive. Maybe we should get some therapy for the groundhog named Phil who did not predict this cold weather.

The Gospel lesson this week gives us some insight about Jesus and His disciples. He asked them to go into the next village and when they arrived there, they would find a donkey. They were instructed to bring the donkey to Him and if anyone said anything, they were to say, “The Lord needs it.”

This donkey was special as it had never been ridden and Jesus wanted to enter the city upon a donkey that would be obedient rather than an older donkey that could have been hardheaded and not obeyed.

Sometimes we in the church tend to go in directions the Lord has not called us.

In a few weeks we be celebrating Pentecost Sunday, the day the Holy Spirit fell upon the believers and they became empowered to do the work of the Lord.

There is something about surrendering to the Holy Spirit and walking in His will that makes our lives on this earth so much better.

Just as the disciples were obedient to Jesus, so are we to be as obedient.

When was the last time you felt you should say something kind or uplifting to someone? If you obeyed that feeling, you obviously know how good it felt. If you just shrugged off the notion of doing the leading, you may have missed out on a blessing. The point is this: Don’t act like the old “dyed-in-the-wool” donkey that is bent on doing it his way, but be fresh as the donkey that had never been ridden and was willing to go the direction the Lord wanted to go.

Do you want to live in harmony with God and your fellow humans? Try obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit. We should walk in harmony with the Lord in a way that we will not question or, disobey, His leading.

Please attend church somewhere this Sunday and take advantage of the services throughout Holy Week. Don’t forget, I invite you to join with me this coming Thursday at 6:30 p.m., to celebrate Maundy, or Holy Thursday, at 120 E. Washington St.

Good Friday service starts at 12:10 p.m. at Greensburg United Methodist Church.

The Most Rev. Michael Layne, PhD, ThD, is a Bishop in the Lutheran Orthodox Church and can be reached at 812-614-2160 or doclayne@yahoo.com.