Looking Around

When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.'” They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,

“Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. Mark 11:1-11 

Too often, I can miss what is most important when I get distracted by what other people are doing or saying. I can be swept up by the excitement or anxiety of the day and not notice was what really going on. I often reflect after the fact and wish I had said or done something completely different. There is often a small opportunity that can change everything.

Mark's Gospel is very sparse compared with the other Gospels, and it was written first. The writer thinks it is very important that Jesus surveyed everything in the temple after this fantastic, almost riotous tribute to him. We are reminded of the critical need to really see and understand our surroundings, to take an honest look around and not be swayed by a public moment. God invites us to do the deep work of seeing what is truly around us and to respond the hidden truth and needs we uncover.

Today, I ask God to help me reflect on the quiet movements of the spirit, the subtle changes that can be hidden by all the noise. May we open our hearts to God's movement in our lives and respond to the real world needs around us.