Seeker

Holy Week has begun. This is when Christians recall events of the last week of the life of Jesus of Nazareth. The first day is Palm Sunday, remembering how Jesus rode an untamed foal of a donkey from the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem . Jesus was accompanied by his disciples who praised God for the powerful deeds they had seen Jesus do. People spread their cloaks and branches of trees ('palms') on the road as Jesus made this journey in fulfilment of ancient prophecies about a king who would come in God's name to set the people free and bring peace. (You can read the story in Matthew 21: 1-11; Mark 11: 1-11; Luke 19: 28 - 44; John 12: 12 - 19.) I love this dramatic 1617 painting (shown above) by Anthony van Dyck of the Palm Sunday event. There is so much in it - strength, movement and colour. There is jubilation, but also confusion, a darkly brooding sky and other hints that if this is a 'triumphal entry' it is a dangerous sort of triumph. What draws my e...