The triumphant ride into Jerusalem! The grand
Procession. The joy, as we reenact often what for many of us is a fond
memory from our own childhood. John Wesley Notes that “‘Hoseanna’ (Lord save
us) was a solemn word in frequent use among the Jews. The Meaning is ‘We
sing hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is he, the Messiah, of the Lord.
Save. Thou that art in the highest heavens.’ Our Lord restrained all public
tokens of honour from the people till now, lest the envy of his enemies should
interrupt his preaching before the time.”[1]
Today we celebrate Jesus’ Triumphant entrance into
Jerusalem. Today is also known as Passion Sunday, which we will honor
during the week as we recall the events that led to the torture and execution
of Jesus. So today let us focus, on today!
Marcus Borg with John Dominc Crossan in the book “The Last
Week” gives us a beautiful picture of what was happening;
Two Processions entered Jerusalem on a spring day in the
year 30…. One was a peasant procession, the other an imperial procession, From
the east, Jesus rode a donkey down the Mount of Olives, cheered by his
followers. …
On the opposite side of the city, from the west, Pontius
Pilate, the roman Governor of Idumea, Judea, and Samaria, entered Jerusalem at
the head of a column of imperial cavalry and soldiers. Jesus’s procession
proclaimed the Kingdom of God; Pilate’s proclaimed the power of empire.[2]
Most people do not realize that Pontius Pilate rode into
Rome. He was sent down during the Holidays to make sure there was no
trouble. Yet during this time there had been trouble and Pontius was
anticipating it.
Imagine the imperial procession’s arrival in the city. A
Visual panopoly of imperial power: cavalry on Horses, foot soldiers, leather
armor, helmets, weapons, banners, golden eagles mounted on poles, sun glinting
on metal and gold. Sounds: the marching of feet, the creaking of leather, the
clinking of the bridles, the beating of drums. The swirling of dust. The eyes
of the silent onlookers, some curios, some awed, some resentful.[3]
This is an intentional display of imperial power much like
the army marching in Tiananmen square or rocket launches around north Korea or
maybe a military parade in Washington DC. This is to instill fear and
remind people who is in charge. Sometimes it’s a warning to the people,
sometimes to other countries. It is also a warning to anyone who may think
about offering any kind of resistance that there is a whole army waiting to
react.
This display also was to be not just a display of military
might but that of Religious authority as well.
According to the theology of rome, the emperor was not
simply the ruler of Rome, but the Son of God. It began with the greatest
of emperors, Augustus, who rules Rome form 31 BCE to 14 CE. His father
was the god Apollo, who conceived him in his mother, Atia. Inscriptions refer
to him as “son of God,” “lord” and “savior,” one who had brought “peace on
earth.” After his death, he was seen ascending into heaven to take his
permanent place among the gods. His successors continued to bear divine
titles, including Tiberius, emperor from 14 to 37 CE and thus the emperor
during the time of Jesus’s public activity. For Rome’s Jewish subjects, Pilate’s
procession embodied not only a rival social order, but also a rival theology.[4]
Jesus’s procession, if we look at it as it is written in
Mark seems like a very deliberate, planned, political action. He tells
his disciples where to find the colt and just mention that the master needs it
and it is understood who and what it is for. Okay, that is an assumption,
but no one questions the disciples after they say that the colt is for the
master therefore one can safely say that the owner was probably a follower of
Jesus.
People of that time had to be very conscience of the
symbolism, the direct contrast Jesus was presenting. Jesus is coming into town
riding on a donkey, lowliest of animals. His army are all peasants and
common folk. They are hailing him as the King, mocking that of Pontius’s
entrance.
Jesus’s procession deliberately countered what was happening
on the other side of the city. Pilate’s procession embodied the power, glory,
and violence of the empire that ruled the world. Jesus’s procession
embodied an alternative vision, the Kingdom of God.[5]
I cannot help but see a direct parallel to what happened
around this country yesterday. A movement, a protest, a match up; the powerless
against the powerful! The students of Stoneman Douglass High school have
started something that, let’s be honest, should have started a long time ago.
On 60 minutes the students were asked “what makes you think
you guys could do more? That this could be different?” here is what a student
said; “the thing about it is we are the generation that had to be trapped in
closets waiting for police to come or waiting for a shooter to walk into our
door. We are the people who know what it is like firsthand!” another student
states; “we are the mass shooting generation…I was born months after
columbine. I am seventeen years old and
we have had seventeen years of mass shootings!” he goes on to say “that stop
school violence act they are pushing in DC which is just a bunch of hot air
fluff doesn’t use the word gun once its when all these tragedies the one thing
that links them all together is the Gun!” [6] one student points out that they have a gun
in their house it is there to protect them in case someone should wish to do
them harm but in their house they are taught there is a difference between gun
for protection or a rifle for hunting and that of a weapon of war!
“3 days after the shooting Emma Gonzalez accepted an
invitation to speak at a rally the five foot two 18 year old had to stand on
Boxes to be heard. Her speech was seen millions of times and ignited the
passion of students around the country!”[7]
Now I confess I am a huge fan of Emma Gonzalez who said; “we
need to understand this isn’t just a mental health issue he would not harmed
that many people with a knife!” She said; “That us kids don’t know what we are
talking about that we are too young to understand how the government works we
call BS!”
When asked why her how she became a symbol? she states I
think it was the hair …iconically you think of the picture and you think of the
bald girl... I am sorry she is just too cool! When asked about what she thinks
of this idea of arming teachers she states “well first of all Stoneman Douglass
ran out of paper for like two weeks out of the school year and now all of a
sudden they have 4 million dollars for teachers to get trained to arm
themselves…really?”[8]
she is just so cool.
The students have a donated space for organizing which they
are keeping secret because they are receiving death threats! Death Threats these are students...young
people…!
But the thing that breaks my heart was an interview with
Emma’s mother “it’s insane you know somebody said please tell Emma we are
behind her, which I appreciate but we should have been in front of her, I
should have been in front of her, we, all adults should have dealt with this
twenty years ago… some adults are, you go girl, but what are we doing?”[9]
What are we doing?
One parent who lost a son pointed out that this generation
has their cell phones in their hands all the time, we as adults criticize that
but they are use to getting answers right away do you think they are going to
wait 6 months or a year for anybody or congress.
The student points out that they need adult help and they
gladly accept it but when someone tries to push their agenda upon these kids
they say no thank you that is not what this is about!
This is an amazing movement…This is Palm Sunday…These kids
are Jesus on a colt riding into Jerusalem!
This isn’t metaphor.
These are young people not old enough to vote…they do not have money of
their own to fight the NRA and old school politicians…These young people are
riding against Rome. At one time I would ask about todays Gospel reading as you
visualize this event could you see yourself in the story. Would you have
been one of the people joyously, celebrating, welcoming the new king into your
city. Believing this man was going to change everything right away.
This man, the one who is always causing trouble, breaking tradition, is in
opposition not just to Rome but the religious authorities. Would you
welcome him Knowing that at any moment trouble could break out and you might be
caught up it in it?
Well I had the opportunity to walk with the Jesus this
Saturday. I got to walk besides youth
who are always causing trouble, breaking tradition, who were standing in
opposition not just to the NRA but to government and religious officials who
may stand in their way!
So, if you think to yourself yes, I would be there. I
would welcome Jesus to the city. I would be ready to stand beside him and
walk with him no matter where it leads. I would then say to you, know
this…you are part of a great and brave group of people who are ready for a big
and dramatic change, and it has started! But remember, with Jesus as soon as
trouble started they all turned against him. They asked for a murderer to
be released over him.
So, who are you in this Palm Sunday Story?
Can you picture yourself maybe as the colt? An
innocent creature living in servitude, who is suddenly thrown into this spotlight.
You are given the great honor to carry the Lord and Master into this
city. You alone have been chosen to be blessed and to touch the living
Christ. The excitement of the crowd is energizing and terrifying at the
same time and yet. And yet, when it is all over you go back to what you
were doing before no better and no worse for it. Your life just goes on
as it always did.
Maybe, just maybe, you are one of the Roman guards on the
far side of the city. Part of the big corporation. A Good soldier.
Following orders and doing what you are supposed to do. Maybe you have
heard something about this man about town. There are rumors and
stories. Oddly enough you are called to stand Guard at an execution and
turns out to be this Jesus you have heard so much about, “And when the
centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said,
"Surely this man was the Son of God!"(Mark 15:39)
Knowing all this, all this history, all this conflict,
knowing what might be, knowing what we might have done in this story, who we
might be. Knowing that all this triumphant celebratory entry into the
city will only end on a hill. Jesus comes. Despite all that.. Jesus comes
and Because of all this…All of you…all of us, all of humanity…Jesus comes!
Because there is poverty in the world …Jesus Comes
Because there is Hunger in the world… Jesus Comes
Because there are migrants who are seeking a better life
…Jesus comes
Because there are worn torn parts of our world…Jesus comes
Because the planet and all things living upon it are crying
out for justice…Jesus comes
Because there are those who need just and equal health
care…Jesus comes
Because people need disaster relief in Puerto Rico ...they
need food, electricity, roofs…Jesus Comes
Because of Students who want to be safe and see no need for weapons
of war to be available in our society…Jesus comes!
Jesus Comes! Jesus Enters the city and there is an open invitation
to follow. But how do we do that? How do we follow Jesus into
Jerusalem? What are we Called to do? How do we prepare to follow Jesus into
Jerusalem?
We are called to accompany those in need on their life
journey. We are called to take action
when we see injustice. We are called to
help close the gap where we see people being marginalized. No, we can’t do it
all. We can’t all be expected to
literally walk besides those in need. But we can write letters…offer financial
support…offer support to organizations and businesses that believe in the same
causes we do.
We can boycott business who do not understand how their
actions support injustice and call them out. Our cry of Hosanna is we walk in
the way of Christ and we are called to act upon that call to the best of our
ability. For some that may be offering a prayer, lifting Christs love that is
in our heart to another. Offering a smile or a word of encouragement. Standing
for a just and peaceful world in our hearts may be all we can do but it is more
than enough! And actually offering kindness and prayer is the best place to
start!
Amanda Beck writes;
“You may say that these practical instructions amount to
being nice to others and being a good person but carry very little spiritual
weight. We would all prefer merely to contemplate the mystery of God’s coming
near and follow Jesus’ journey with a spiritual devotion to the suffering
servant. It is true that many of these instructions don’t seem spiritual in
themselves. We must do them, not because of their own spiritual weight, but
because our hearts are very small. We clutter them daily with concern for
ourselves, misplaced loves, and hurt feelings. We must make room for Jesus in
order to welcome him properly. Somehow this practical work done with spiritual
attention prepares the way of the Lord as nothing else can. It changes us. It
makes room in our hearts that Jesus can fill with the kingdom of heaven. This
is the way to make straight the path of the Lord: self-emptying. There is no
other way to let Jesus’ message sink in, and there is no other way to follow
our Lord than to walk in his footsteps. Jesus’ life was one of self-emptying
and service to God and humanity, and so we make our lives in his likeness. If
there was ever a week to get this right, this is it. If there was ever a point
in the Christian narrative to step out of the way and let the story of divine
love continue, this is it.”[10]
So, on this day when we gleefully welcome Jesus into
Jerusalem with all the knowing and all the anticipation of the spiritual
practice of this week. This is the time to spend spiritually on
ourselves. This is the week to practice spiritual centeredness and
forgiveness and seek right living or ways to help make living right, so that we
cannot only be spiritually present to each other but to the community
around us.
This week can be used to ramp us up for the rest of the year
so that we here at United Church of Christ Petaluma may “put our faith into
action through our commitment to compassion and justice. So that As individuals
and as a congregation, we address need and challenges of inequality in our
community and around the world as we seek ways in which we may join others to
advance social and environmental justice.”[11][7]
You all are doing a lot individually and collectively as a
congregation, but this week, this week is for yourself and God. This week
is about reenergizing ourselves as Christians as we live into our story.
Look for yourself in the story, look for what moves you spiritually this week.
Watch for the story as it continues to unfold around you. Jesus’ walk to
good Friday is part of our richest tradition. It empowers and inspires so
that we may be who we are called to be Christ to the world. As we are
called to engage the 3 great Loves: Love of Neighbor, Love of
Children, and Love of Creation Amen.
[1] Jenee
Woodard, The Abingdon Creative Preaching Annual (Nashville: Abingdon Press,
2013), 85.
[2] Marcus
J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan, The Last Week: The Day-by-day Account of
Jesus's final Week in Jerusalem (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2006),2.
[3] Ibid.,
3.
[4]
Ibid
[5]
Ibid 5
[6] https://www.cbsnews.com/video/the-students-of-stoneman-douglas-the-crown-prince-of-saudi-arabia/
[7] Ibid
[8]
Ibid
[9]
Ibid
[10] David
Neil Mosser, and Wellman, eds., Abingdon Preaching Annual 2011 (Nashville:
Abingdon Press, 2010), 119.
[11] UCC
Petaluma, About us, 2018, accessed march 20, 2018,
https://uccpetaluma.org/about-us/.
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