Luke 19:32-36: a reflection

32Those who were sent went away and found things just as he had told them. 33As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34They said, “The Lord needs it.” 35Then they brought it to Jesus. They threw their cloaks on the colt and sat Jesus on them. 36As he went, they spread their cloaks on the road.

As Jesus prepares to enter Jerusalem, he sends two disciples to fetch a colt, telling them that if anyone asks why they are taking it, they are to say, The Lord has need of it. And so it happens: as they untie the colt, the owners ask what they are doing, and at those words, the Lord has need of it, they let it go. The colt, and its owners' willingness to release it, are placed at the service of the Lord.

Notice the simple words that secured the colt: the Lord has need of it. The owners, hearing that the Lord had need of their animal, released it for his use. There is something beautiful in this: that what they possessed was made available to the Lord, given up gladly when he had need of it. The colt became part of the Lord's purpose, its owners honored to have what was theirs used by him.

That phrase, the Lord has need of it, speaks to our own possessions and our own selves. The Lord has a claim on what we have, our resources, our time, our abilities, our very selves; and there are moments when he has need of what is ours, when what we possess is asked for his service. It is a privilege, not a loss, when the Lord has need of what is ours. When the Lord has need of something you have, your time, your money, your gifts, your home, release it gladly, as the owners released the colt, honored that what is yours can serve his purpose. Hold what you have with an open hand, ready to release it when the Lord has need of it, counting it a privilege that your possessions and your self can be used by him.

Lord, when you prepared to enter Jerusalem, the disciples took the colt with the words, the Lord has need of it, and its owners released it gladly for your use. Let that phrase speak to my own possessions and my own self. You have a claim on what I have, my resources, my time, my abilities, my very self; and there are moments when you have need of what is mine, when what I possess is asked for your service. Help me see that it is a privilege, not a loss, when you have need of what is mine. When you have need of something I have, my time, my money, my gifts, my home, help me release it gladly, as the owners released the colt, honored that what is mine can serve your purpose. Help me hold what I have with an open hand, ready to release it when you have need of it, counting it a privilege that my possessions and my self can be used by you. All I have is yours; take what you need.