Zechariah 9:9-12 (NRSV)
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Verse 9Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Verse 10He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. Verse 11As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.
Verse 12Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.
Devotion
The readings and our reflections for this week will invite our focus on the theme of promise: Surrender your burdens to the Lord who will give you rest.
Many of us are “prisoners of hope” amid the hatred, violence, and division in the world nowadays. Zechariah’s prophecy—fulfilled in Jesus who entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, and whose blood sets us free to be people of God—bids us return to the Lord. Such grace invites us to surrender every burden to the Lord who speaks peace to the nations and restores troubled hearts.
Although we may lug around worry, guilt, and anxiety about things beyond our control, Jesus invites us to surrender it all to his mercy. He doesn’t demand that we earn our way or bear the load alone, but to trust in him, releasing the weight we were never meant to carry. When we humble ourselves and let go, Jesus restores our hope with everlasting joy.
Prayer
Merciful Father, thank you for the gift of your Son, our Lord and Messiah who entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Embolden us to accept your invitation to cast our burdens and fears upon Jesus who will help carry them, restore our hope, and give us rest. Amen.
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