The Jews looked back nostalgically to the reign of King David, who conquered his enemies and established a strong kingdom. They were now occupied by the Romans, who rode powerful stallions, their leaders travelling majestically in chariots, and who punished with cruelty those who opposed them. The reading from Zephaniah, on the other hand, looks forward to a King who rides on a donkey and puts aside all instruments of war. Jesus would ride into his city of Jerusalem on a donkey before his passion.
In today’s gospel he suggests that those who have the trust of children will learn about him. They will accept him as he is, not as what they think they want. Many of the leaders of his day - the priests, scribes, Pharisees and Saducees - were versed in the scriptures and erudite, but they were unable to recognise the Messiah among them because he failed to live up to their expectations and his preaching undermined the comfortable status quo.
Jesus is a King who never exploits his people for his own gain or lays heavy burdens on them. He is available to his subjects every minute of the day. In prayer we can share with him all our needs and confide in him our dreams, troubles and anxieties.