The Candle of Prayer in All of Us

On Palm Sunday, Jesus rides into Jerusalem in triumph – on a donkey. He arrives not as the force-wielding conquering hero, but as the man who listens to dreams of every person and says, “you are already loved by God.” The social hierarchy that makes some high and superior and the rest low and inferior is ended. After his arrest we the crowd cry, “Crucify Him!” How dare a man upset our social order by listening to the cherished dreams of every person regardless of rank or status? We may be angry but Jesus asks us to light a candle of prayer. That candle is in all our hearts, including the least and poorest of us.

Lit Faithfulness

It’s simpler 
Than you think

No mountains 
To climb

No epiphanies 
To have

No words 
To preach

Just buy a box of 
Matches

It does not matter 
Who you meet

Or what they 
Believe

Each has a candle of 
Cherished dreams

Invite everyone 
Out of the rain

Out of the wind 
Out of the sun

Just enough shelter 
To pause

Most will not 
Stop

They’ll just 
Brush you by

Too busy 
Too harried

Too ambitious 
Too broken

If they give you 
The time of day

Ask “Where’s 
Your candle?”

Your ask will restore 
Candles

Eaten by rats 
Long hidden

Denied 
Forgotten

Ask who 
Rains on them

Blows out their light 
Glares too bright

Then give them 
The box of matches

Let them 
Strike the light

If needed 
Cup your hands

Protect the wick 
As they

Light the candle 
Of their dreams

Let the flickering 
Grow to flame

Now listen to them in 
Their sacred space

Hear the tales of their 
Cherished dreams

Ask 
“Is it lit?”

At “yes” 
You leave behind

Matches 
Not thinking

Read the sister poem here: Unlit Betrayal

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 Images: Top, “Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem” by Bernhard Plockhorst. Middle, Lighting prayer candles in church.