Today tyrants are put on notice. Today is Palm Sunday. Yesterday was the first day of Passover.
Passover commemorates liberation from tyranny—three thousand years ago.
Remember. We were once slaves in Egypt. Pharaoh lost. We won. Not easily, but somehow.
Palm Sunday commemorates resistance to tyranny—two thousand years ago.
Remember. We once cowered under tyranny, but we stood up. We marched.
Several days before Passover, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, mimicking tyrants who ride majestic horses.
Children waved palm branch “swords,” giggling, mimicking Roman soldiers.
The jubilant procession chanted:
Hosanna-heysanna-sanna-sanna-HO!
HANDS OFF!!
The poor and hungry, the homeless and sick, the lame and meek, the broke and broken hailed Jesus as savior.
Messiah.
Then Jesus strode into the temple, a beautiful “house of prayer for all nations.”
He looked around.
He seethed.
He flipped over moneychangers’ tables, wielded a whip, and drove out the corrupt and fraudulent money-grubbers.
That’s the Palm Sunday story.
It was not a Dr. Seuss parade. It was prophetic street theatre. It was defiant. Beleaguered people acted up.
MAGA acolytes see it differently.
I’ve read hagiographies of their pharaoh. He’s the new messiah, anointed by God to Make America Great Again. They actually say those things in their preaching, prayers, and propaganda.
This morning MAGA nation will hear the Palm Sunday story in their gilded nationalistic churches and applaud.
Hallelujah. Jesus drained the swamp. Hosanna in the highest. Our leader is just like Jesus. Let’s throw him a military parade on his birthday.
Go ahead. Have your parade. But Jesus will not be in it. You represent everything he’s not.
You’ve twisted hate into love. You’ve twisted treason into patriotism. You’ve twisted lies into truth.
Sorry, you are not allowed to twist Jesus into your mascot.
Jesus was kind, honest, compassionate, inclusive. He did not mock people who stutter or are disabled. He did not inflict pain. He did not show off. He did not gloat. He did not expect adulation and obeisance. He never demanded that anyone bend a knee to him or kiss his ass.
Jesus forgave those who crucified him. He didn’t order retribution. Jesus was gracious. Grace was the heart of his character.
The United States was founded on the principles of democracy and political leadership from the ancient Greeks. Among those principles is this from Heraclitus: Character is destiny.
Tyrants are destined to fail.
Only love abides.
* * *
image: jesuschristformuslims.com
Thank you for reminding us that character counts. We see it and feel it in persons such as Jesus, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Buddha, Thich Nhat Hanh and many other examples. Character is radiated in qualities of graciousness, respect, compassion, kindness and fairness. There is a difference between character and reputation. Perhaps the wisdom of basketball coach John Wooden says it best: “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” On this Palm Sunday, it is a message for all of us to remember.
Yes! You’ve spoken what’s in my heart & mind today…every word is true, & powerful…time to remember…character is destiny. We, too, are building character – one breath, one choice, one act at a time. God Bless…
Thanks to you, I’ll be humming this bold Springsteen tune on my way to church this morning.
I do rejoice that Jesus is King rather than any of the wannabes.
My friend is decrying a lack of willingness from opposition to this “stand the world on its head” madness that we’re presently enduring. It’s either fight now or pay higher for it later. Remember, Jesus was betrayed by one of his own close advisers. It happens. But life doesn’t stop. “Keep on walking, keep on talking, and marching to the FREEDOM Land!” We will prevail! Do what we individually can, regardless of the size of the contribution–and I’m not just talking about money. Don’t let anyone turn us around. This will be a protracted struggle. But remember. Every long journey begins with a single step.
That’s a good musical choice for a Palm Sunday anthem. ONWARD!
Beautiful!! Wonderful!! What a Palm Sunday–or any day–lesson for us all. Trust the Bible. God IS Love. Jesus was the human manifestation of that love.
Hallelujah!
Thank you Randy,
Amen. You’ve said it beautifully.
Oh yes. This is the triumphal entry indeed. Only love abides. All else falls. Thank you for the reminder.
Beautiful, thank you!
Now your talking!!! Great writing from an activist minister.
And Churchill rightly appreciated character ‘s foundation: “Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees all others.”.
Thank you, Randy.
You are in top form, Randy. Loved it!