Liturgy of the Palms (Year A)
Matthew 21.1-11 (TIB;[1] adapted):
As they approached Jerusalem, entering Beth-Phage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent off two disciples 2with the instructions, “Go into the village straight ahead of you, and immediately you’ll find a tethered donkey with her colt standing beside her. Untie them and lead them back to me. 3If anyone questions you, say, ‘The Rabbi needs them.’ Then they’ll let them go at once.” 4This came about to fulfill what was said through the prophet: 5“Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Your Sovereign comes to you without display, riding on a donkey, on a colt — the foal of a beast of burden.’ ” 6So the disciples went off and did what Jesus had ordered. 7They brought the donkey and her colt, and after they laid their cloaks on the animals, Jesus mounted and rode toward the city.
8Great crowds of people spread their cloaks on the road, while some began to cut branches from the trees and lay them along the path. 9The crowds — those who went in front of Jesus and those who followed — were all shouting, “Hosanna to the Heir to the House of David! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Most High! Hosanna in the highest!” 10As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred to its depths, demanding, “Who is this?” 11And the crowd kept answering, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee!”
Other readings: Isaiah 50.4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2.5-11
The Gathering Prayer:
God of transformation, we are reminded this day that Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem was more than a show, more than a simple provocation, more than the beginning of a cute celebration. It was a signal that things are changing, an unmistakably potent message to the powers that be that the world as we know it is becoming the world as it should be. … This simple ride reminds us — and tells the whole world — that you have come to make all things new; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
As we begin our journey to Easter, we will find ourselves in very familiar territory. A lot of people only make an appearance “in church” during the Christmas and Easter seasons; so we’ve heard these passages several times.
And I’m sure some of us have been told of the story about Jesus coming into Jerusalem riding the colt from the East, while Rome came in from the West with more troops and fanfare. During Passover, the city of Jerusalem could swell to over 200,000 people (up from the normal 40,000). As such, Rome would dispense more troops to help police the city and snuff out any uprising before it garnered traction.
Except.
No one was expecting Jesus to come to Jerusalem. There was speculation, I’m sure. But even if he did arrive in Jerusalem, the Religious Elite (made up of the clergy working with the Roman Government), would be able to quickly capture him before anyone was the wiser.
Except.
As the superpower of the known world was coming in from the West — parading the pinnacle of violence and death while celebrating the supposed “Savior of the World” — the world’s True King was coming in from the East, humbly riding a colt at the celebration of the common people.
In my mind, this was a political move on Jesus’ part, as much as it was a spiritual one. Jesus was fully aware of the inswell of people and the introduction of more Roman troops. As a faithful, Jewish person, he would have made the trek to Jerusalem every year for Passover so he knew what was going on. He knew what he was doing; he knew the statement he was making.
From the standpoint of seeing the world as it had become (the Roman army coming in from the West) and comparing that to what the world is supposed to be (Jesus riding a colt coming in from the East) one gets a sense of just how far the world had fallen. Jesus was coming into Jerusalem with a non-violent protest to the powers of the world, both spiritual and political. As Matthew noted, Jesus picked this image from the prophet Zechariah, “Your Sovereign comes to you without display, riding on a donkey, on a colt — the foal of a beast of burden” (Zechariah 9.9). The next verse is even more telling —
Zechariah 9.10 (CEB[2]):
He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the warhorse from Jerusalem. The bow used in battle will be cut off; he will speak peace to the nations. His rule will stretch from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.
We have chariots, warhorses, and weapons of war being paraded in from the West. And here comes Jesus from the East, the world’s True Ruler, humbly riding a colt. His mission? To dispose of the chariots, the warhorses, and the weapons of war. Two very different ideas of how the world should be — one of violence, the other of peace.
No. Jesus knew what he was doing; no doubt about it.
But I don’t know about the other side. I’d like to think that, in the depths of their hearts, the Religious Elite heard the whisper of Zechariah 9.9-10 and felt the pangs of repentance. Perhaps some of them did. Others, though, pushed that holy whisper down deep; deeper still. Perhaps they felt the shame of it but believed they were too far gone (as we’ll see Judas and Peter do).
The stage is set. The battle lines have been drawn. This is a war for the heart and soul of the world. How will Jesus win against the perfect killing machine? As we continue through Holy Week, we’ll see more and more of his plan to rescue the world from the grip of violence and death. Spoilers: it won’t be what we think. It won’t be for the weak at heart.
~~~
In the Love of the Three in One,
Br. Jack+, LC
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[1] Scripture quotations marked (TIB) are taken from The Inclusive Bible. Copyright © 2007 by Priests for Equality. Used by permission.
[2] Scripture quotations marked (CEB) are taken from The Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible.
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