WHAT NEEDS UNTYING IN YOUR LIFE?

 

Homily for Palm Sunday, Year C

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Bible Readings: Luke 19:28-40; Isaiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11; Luke 22:14-23:56

Today is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. The liturgy of Palm Sunday is marked by deep contrasts: we begin with the jubilant procession of Jesus into Jerusalem, greeted as a king (Luke 19:28–40), only to find ourselves, minutes later, immersed in the solemn Passion narrative (Luke 22:14–23:56), where Jesus is betrayed, condemned, crucified, and buried. This tension between joy and sorrow is not an accident - it is at the heart of our faith.

In the Gospel account of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Luke 19:28-40), Jesus instructs two of his disciples to go into a village where they will find a tethered colt, one that has never been ridden. Jesus says, “Untie it and bring it here.” If anyone asks why, they are to respond: “The Lord has need of it.” A curious mind might ask: Why a donkey? Why one that has never been used? Why untie it? And what does this mean for us?

That Gospel passage tells us that the donkey was bound. It could not move, could not serve, could not fulfill its purpose. It was limited, restricted, held back- perhaps for donkey years. We, too, often find ourselves “tied or bound” in different ways: Tied by fears that keep us from taking steps of faith. Tied by past mistakes or guilt we refuse to release. Tied by anger, unforgiveness, addiction, or shame. Tied by people’s expectations or self-doubt. Ask yourself: What is tying me down from becoming who God wants me to be?

Jesus did not just notice the donkey - he needed it. He chose it for a divine purpose. But first, it had to be untied. The Lord says the same to us: “I need you - but I must first set you free.” God cannot use what is still bound. He wants to untie: Your heart from bitterness. Your mind from lies. Your will from pride. Let the Lord enter those tight, knotted corners of your life and loosen them with grace. Because freedom is not the absence of burden, but the presence of purpose.

The donkey had never been ridden untrained, untested. Yet Jesus used it. This tells us that you do not have to be perfect to serve God. You only have to be available. Maybe you feel unworthy, not ready, rough around the edges. But if the Lord says, “I have need of you,” then your availability matters more than your ability.

Once untied, the donkey had one job: to carry Jesus into the city. It was not the donkey that people cheered for - it was the One on its back. And yet, it had the incredible privilege of bearing the King of Glory. When you allow God to untie you and use you, you become a vessel of his presence. Your life becomes a procession of grace, carrying Christ into homes, workplaces, communities. What a dignity for such an overlooked creature! What a dignity for us!

Dear friend, to conclude this reflection, we ask ourselves once again that fundamental question: What needs untying in our life? The Master is calling. He wants to lead you from bondage to purpose, from ordinary to sacred. Let Him untie: That wound you have hidden too long. That fear of failure. That voice that says, “God cannot use me or I am not worthy.” The Lord has need of you. Let him set you free.