2 weeks Ago
Palm Sunday kicked off Holy Week for Christians around the world. Millions of worshipers spent Sunday morning reading the story of Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey while his faithful followers and Passover visitors waved palm branches and shouted, “Hosanna” (save us). At First United Methodist Church, the congregation sang in unison as the kids in the church waved palms in a procession down the aisle.
It is a fitting start to the most important week in the Christian faith. A week that marks the start of the Christian religion. A religion that started just over 2,000 years ago and now has almost 3 billion followers.
To say the least, Jesus got a lot done in just a week. A part of Palm Sunday that is often forgotten because it is overshadowed by the important fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy is the civil disobedience of the day. As Jesus entered from the east on a donkey proclaiming the power of God, the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, entered from the west on a war horse in full military garb, proclaiming the power of the Roman Empire.
Jesus had entered Jerusalem on many occasions, but never with such fanfare and never on the back of a donkey. He chose Passover to make such an entrance, knowing that Pilate would be traveling into the Holy City on the same day. Coincidence or a statement against Roman authority? Alone on the back of a donkey, leading his followers into the Holy City, versus Pilate’s entry, atop a military horse at the head of a Roman cavalry — this is an obvious political demonstration against the ruling, oppressive government.
The following day, Jesus once again demonstrated against what he believed to be wrong. He entered the temple to find money-changers and merchants that had turned the holy place into a “den of thieves.” Once again Jesus rebelled against a ruling party, by ordering the salesman out of the temple and turning over the tables of the money-changers.
Once again he modeled civil disobedience. Jesus called out the wrongs of the world. He provided the people of future generations with a road map for protesting against atrocities, discrimination, and the elimination of natural rights.
It’s no wonder that leaders of civil disobedience throughout the history of the world, from the founding fathers to Martin Luther King Jr., from the women’s suffrage movement to Archbishop Desmond Tutu in South Africa, have often called on the teachings of Jesus as a guide. Arguably, Jesus is the greatest leader of civil disobedience the world has ever seen.
His disciples took up the mantle upon his death and continued a march against oppression, falsities, and a world unwilling to change for the better. A world often controlled by unscrupulous men too self-interested and narcissistic to recognize a better way. Today, the news is filled with acts of civil disobedience.
From traditional protests outside of government buildings and the questioning of government officials at town halls to Harvard University’s refusal to comply with the Trump administration’s demands; civil disobedience remains an important vehicle of a democratic society and should be applauded by the citizenry. Civil disobedience has been used in the past for great changes to our society and to check the power of an overreaching government. It has been and will continue to be one of the few powers that citizens have to enact change, dispute government actions, and voice their opinions.
Parents protest at school board meetings when they believe a school is not addressing the needs of their kids. Unions go on strike and apply pressure to corporations when they believe they are being taken advantage of. Groups of like-minded individuals march to the capital to voice opposition in solidarity against government actions.
And citizens make their voices heard with the vote, by volunteering for a political campaign, or by calling their representative. The founding fathers felt so strongly about the need for civil disobedience that they guaranteed the right to peacefully assemble and freedom of speech in the First Amendment. They understood what Jesus and his followers understood.
This week I will feel the comfort of the atonement and promise of everlasting life that Jesus brought to me on that most important week 2,000 years ago. I will remember the Last Supper and the carrying of the cross, the teachings of Jesus and my favorite parables. But, I will also remember the civil disobedience of Palm Sunday and the cleansing of the temple as a guide for standing up for what is right.
And I will remember a quote from an old Franciscan prayer: “May God bless you with foolishness. Enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.” Happy Easter.
May God bless America..
