Easter: A reflection for times of noise, power and appearances

In a society defined by image, influence and the constant search for recognition, the image of Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey is puzzling.

He does not enter triumphantly on a horse, nor is he surrounded by power; rather, he rides a humble animal. Without ostentation. Without spectacle. Without imposing himself.

This event, recounted in the Gospel of Matthew (21:1–11), offers a surprising reflection on leadership, social expectations, and the meaning of life, when read today.

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[destacate]At a time when power was associated with military force and domination, the idea of a king who chose simplicity defied everything. It was not improvisation, it was coherence[/destacate] While to many this may seem like a spontaneous act, it was in fact the fulfilment of an ancient promise. Centuries earlier, the prophet Zechariah had announced the arrival of a different, bewildering, and unusual king: a righteous saviour... and humble.

This is no minor detail. At a time when power was associated with military force and domination, the idea of a king who chose simplicity defied everything. It was not improvisation. It was coherence.

Today, amid growing global uncertainty where so many promises fade over time and mistrust is part of everyday life, Jesus' entry on a donkey raises an uncomfortable yet necessary idea: perhaps true credibility does not lie in the spectacular, posturing or artifice, but in being faithful to who one is and what one says.

The scene is clear: Jesus chooses a symbol of peace rather than a weapon of war. He does not enter as a conqueror, but as someone approachable. Here, humility is not a strategy, but an identity.

[destacate]Jesus' attitude contrasts with our dominant culture, where success is often measured by visibility, the ability to impose oneself, and media impact[/destacate] In modern terms, this would be like someone who renounces their privileges to walk alongside the people and engages with everyday reality out of conviction rather than for the sake of image.

This attitude contrasts with our dominant culture, where success is often measured by visibility, the ability to impose oneself, and media impact.

However, there are increasingly more voices, both within and outside the religious sphere, calling for a different model based on empathy, closeness, and coherence.

The crowd that welcomed Jesus had its own expectations. They expected a political liberator who would immediately transform the system from the outside with force and a display of power. However, the proposal was different: a transformation that begins from within, in the depths of the individual and of society.

The story of the start of Passion Week is not just a historical or religious event. In many ways, it is a mirror.

It invites us to reconsider what we mean by success, what kind of leadership we value, and above all, the role of simplicity, humility, and authenticity in a culture that often rewards and exalts their opposites.

Perhaps, caught up in social media, the rush of life, and the constant need to stand out, the figure of Jesus still has something to say: true greatness does not always make a loud entrance; it often arrives in silence and stillness, with discretion and truth.

It is in the truth of Jesus, lived with coherence, that human beings find freedom.

Jorge Pastor is a Spanish Baptist pastor

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