Palm Sunday is the only day of the year that we get two gospels. In the beginning of the liturgy, we heard about the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. And then we heard the drama of the Passion. It’s kind of an accident; When I was growing up before Vatican II, we heard the passion read on the fifth Sunday of lent. After Vatican II that Sunday was folded into Palm Sunday. We will hear the passion of John on Good Friday. So perhaps this Sunday we should spend a little time thinking about the entry into Jerusalem.
Luke, like the other writers, talks about Jesus Sending his disciples to get a donkey for him to ride. Luke wants us to think about the prophecy that the Messiah will come riding on a donkey, and perhaps Jesus was thinking about that as well. But I wonder if something else was going on. It was Passover time, and the population of Jerusalem swelled to triple or quadruple its normal number. And when you have hungry, tired and dirty pilgrims from all over the Roman world, there’s bound to be trouble. Pilate was responsible for keeping the peace, and as a Roman ruler he relied heavily on intimidation. There were always bodies hanging from crosses out where you could see them. Before the major feasts some extras would be executed, hopefully still alive when the pilgrims came. And another way of intimidating was to have a parade. Pilate would be accompanied by a large contingent of soldiers mounted on horses, along with foot soldiers. They would march into the city accompanied by the beat of drums. Pilate would be preceded by banners and other symbols of the empire. And weapons would be very apparent. That may have been going on just about the same time as Jesus entered Jerusalem. And what a contrast. He is alone, riding on a donkey, piled with pieces of clothing from the people. They are waving palm branches, and they are saying something very subversive. Psalm 128 reads “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the lord”. But they are saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord”. And They are waving palm branches and shouting Hosanna! Pilate could not have been unaware, nor could Jesus. He is mocking power and prestige. And his simple act draws the crowds that cheer and shout with joy -- and Pilate's crowds, what there are of them, are silent and trying to get out of his way.
Jesus is doing a prophetic act. He is saying that all the power in the world can’t do anything against someone who is obedient to God -- and he will continue to show this in the passion, death and resurrection.
I think of the president of Ukraine, who taunts the power of Putin. His actions buy him intense loyalty from his people, even though they are outnumbered, outgunned, and left alone by the rest of the world -- and whatever happens, he’ll be remembered as a hero, and Putin will live in infamy.
Jesus reminds us of where true power lies. It isn’t in the army marching into Jerusalem behind Pilate dressed in armor riding on a horse. It is in the humble prophet riding on a donkey.
