Scripture:
They proclaimed: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.” Luke 19:38
Reflection:
Every year at the beginning of Passover week, the Roman governor of Judea would march into Jerusalem with a large contingent of troops to secure the city. Because in the week leading up to the Jewish holy day, Jerusalem’s population would increase up to ten times its resident population as pilgrims arrived to celebrate. There was a strain on infrastructure and resources. Where would they stay? Where would they eat? And of course, because at this time the holy day had a political dimension, anti-Roman sentiment and opposition to Roman occupation made the city ripe for revolt.
So to forestall any unrest, the governor came into the city from the West in a large procession of his troops. He was on horseback. He was accompanied by the imperial eagles, the symbols of Roman domination, power, and the divine Caesar. We can imagine the reaction of the people who saw this spectacle. There must have been jeers from a crowd crying out for redemption.
One year – probably 30 CE – another procession entered Jerusalem that same day. But this one came from the east. It’s leader rode a donkey. Rather than powerful troops, poor fisherman escorted him. There were cheers not jeers as the people welcomed the one who was a son of their native ruling house. They waved palm branches not fists. There was acclamation instead of repudiation.
It was Jesus of Nazareth. He was entering the city in what only could be called an act of political theater. He mocked the Empire to testify to the power of the Kingdom.
Practice:
So often in our lives we are confronted by political systems that assert through their use of oppressive power their own imperial pretension. How do we respond as people of faith? This week as we continue our own journey to Jerusalem let’s take a moment to consider the extent to which we allow our faith to inform our politics. On this Palm Sunday, we need to ask ourselves, if we were in Jerusalem that day, which procession would we have joined?