Matthew under the arm 101

I spoke to Columba this evening about this last phase of our pilgrimage. He simply held his hand up and continued to set very still and silent. But he did so in such a way that I wasn't excluded from his silence. It was as if I was invited in to 'another' pilgrimage. His silence was, as it were, laying plams down 'on the road' for me to process into the silence with him. So I sat and, even for me, was still. When he finished about half an hour later, I asked him what may same a rather silly question. 'Well what now?' 'Say 'Hosanna!...silently!' Two pilgrimages as one..... Matthew 21:1-11…. Three images of insignificance are paradoxically striking. One is Jesus’ procession on donkeys. The second is the contrast between insignificant Nazareth and self-conscious Jerusalem. The third is the branches as a carpet. These do not point to lack of preparation or cynicism. The crowds suggest that these symbols are important. In retrospect, we notice now the natural ‘cross’ on a donkey’s back. A week later, the ‘hosannas’ would sound differently. But the prophetic challenging by symbols of religious power, the ecclesiastical authorities, must not be missed. I would have my attitudes and actions transfigured by Your Humility and Strength By establishing stillness, even if it is only for a few moments, you have experienced a little humility, because you have to let so many perceptions of yourself go. Contemplative Prayer is, perhaps, the most honest' act' you will 'perform'. There are no rewards, there are no 'achievements'...there's just you and God, and even God is imperceivable. It is an act of love and self-giving that takes the risk of ...nothingness. It is without power. It is charged with hope, however. Spend time thinking of circumstances where power is exercised against the challenge of love. Then become aware of ways in which you perhaps collude with the engines of power. Perhaps there are ways in which you can symbolise the way of humility and its strength. Do not force it. Allow the sentence to build up attention in you and the action to arise out of it will surface. +Martin Argyll and The Isles