My mother's favorite Catholic holiday was Palm Sunday because she said, "It was the time Jesus showed us that sometimes righteous indignation is the proper response." She was a Catholic Worker type whose whole life was about shaking her fists in the face of the powerful. She loved that Jesus had "turned over the money changer's tables," a fact that she thought showed just what he thought of the monied and greedy class. She also died on Palm Sunday, a day I felt she had chosen.
Holy, holy! I am God-smacked. What a powerful message in times like these. And this especially, brought me to tears, "…but I know I, too, wave the palm branch and resist the cross.
I love the performance. I shrink from the sacrifice.
And yet, the Spirit of Jesus does not give up on us.
Still he invites us—again and again—to follow."
When we feel vulnerable and weak, hold fast in the never ending hope and Spirit of Jesus.
I have always loved Palm Sunday - ever since I was a kid. After mostly leaving church it was the only service I chose to attend last year. This piece just blew my mind and makes my heart so full.
It is a peace beyond measure that there is a vestige of non-violent courage amongst those of us for whom there is a palpable struggle within Christendom for the representation of Christ’s radical justice of patience, grace, compassion, and mercy—not just a name wielded in personal hope of protection or the maintenance of power, but the Pauline willingness to be “accursed and cut off from Christ” if only others might be brought in, loved, redeemed. This is not the justice of self-preservation but the cruciform love that would rather be damned than see another perish. Thank you for your courage, and message of hope.
Thank you for reminding me of my own childhood growing up in an Assembly of God church. I too always liked Palm Sunday. And now I see it thru a different lense.
Thank you for this, this is message is so empowering, I grew up in church and in the last years my faith is being through so many changes. I'm rebuilding the foundations of my faith.
It dawned on me after having all those "likes" on my comment about Jesus turning over the tables to ask a question. Was this blatant disrespect of the Temple authorities and their right to make money (they got taxes from the money changers), part of what led Jesus to be prosecuted? Seems obvious but I had always been taught it was his claim to be a Messiah. Turns out disrespecting the right to make money at the expense of travelers and strangers was definitely part of what the authorities were mad about. Jesus WAS a rebel--and someone who did not like the ill use of strangers. Wasn't a big fan of money-making either, I think.
The quote “each branch or cloak that was laid down before [Jesus] represented the desire to break free from captivity to the status quo.” is somewhat overstated. There’s a degree of truth to it, but the idea that all these people were about totally upending social power dynamics and completely reimagine society like modern people in the 60s and beyond may desire. This is quite an anachronistic description of what was happening, unless you simply mean ending the status quo (Roman occupation) and perhaps also the man made oppressive traditions of the Pharisees.
Likewise, calling what Jesus did ‘a protest’ akin to the civil rights marches is also anachronistic, but I can see some value in contextualising.
I did like your explanation of Jesus as another type of King. Very much highlighted the difference between Messiah Ben Joseph and Messiah Ben David in Jesus’ different appearances (first and second). Not sure if I’d agree that Jesus wasn’t ushering in a new empire: Daniel foresaw this in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream: “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,”
Daniel 2:44
I agree with your interpretation of taking up one’s cross as one layer of the teaching. But it’s ignoring a key phrase: “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF and take up his cross and follow me.” This was perfectly modelled through Jesus: “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, NOT MY WILL, but yours, be done.” What preceded this teaching? Jesus’ rebuke of Peter: “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (Matthew and Mark. Luke doesn’t include the rebuke, but the teaching that immediately precedes it is there). It’s clear taking up one’s cross is about sacrificing one’s plans, ideas, and desires for God’s. But you are right in saying that doing so can and has led to martyrdom, it’s just that that is secondary.
My mother's favorite Catholic holiday was Palm Sunday because she said, "It was the time Jesus showed us that sometimes righteous indignation is the proper response." She was a Catholic Worker type whose whole life was about shaking her fists in the face of the powerful. She loved that Jesus had "turned over the money changer's tables," a fact that she thought showed just what he thought of the monied and greedy class. She also died on Palm Sunday, a day I felt she had chosen.
Holy, holy! I am God-smacked. What a powerful message in times like these. And this especially, brought me to tears, "…but I know I, too, wave the palm branch and resist the cross.
I love the performance. I shrink from the sacrifice.
And yet, the Spirit of Jesus does not give up on us.
Still he invites us—again and again—to follow."
When we feel vulnerable and weak, hold fast in the never ending hope and Spirit of Jesus.
Hoooooly, this is one of the best things I've read in while. Chills, empowerment, big YES! coming from my heart. Wow. thank you.
Aw ty can I share this comment?
sure thing!
I have always loved Palm Sunday - ever since I was a kid. After mostly leaving church it was the only service I chose to attend last year. This piece just blew my mind and makes my heart so full.
It is a peace beyond measure that there is a vestige of non-violent courage amongst those of us for whom there is a palpable struggle within Christendom for the representation of Christ’s radical justice of patience, grace, compassion, and mercy—not just a name wielded in personal hope of protection or the maintenance of power, but the Pauline willingness to be “accursed and cut off from Christ” if only others might be brought in, loved, redeemed. This is not the justice of self-preservation but the cruciform love that would rather be damned than see another perish. Thank you for your courage, and message of hope.
Thank you for reminding me of my own childhood growing up in an Assembly of God church. I too always liked Palm Sunday. And now I see it thru a different lense.
Thank you for this, this is message is so empowering, I grew up in church and in the last years my faith is being through so many changes. I'm rebuilding the foundations of my faith.
It dawned on me after having all those "likes" on my comment about Jesus turning over the tables to ask a question. Was this blatant disrespect of the Temple authorities and their right to make money (they got taxes from the money changers), part of what led Jesus to be prosecuted? Seems obvious but I had always been taught it was his claim to be a Messiah. Turns out disrespecting the right to make money at the expense of travelers and strangers was definitely part of what the authorities were mad about. Jesus WAS a rebel--and someone who did not like the ill use of strangers. Wasn't a big fan of money-making either, I think.
The quote “each branch or cloak that was laid down before [Jesus] represented the desire to break free from captivity to the status quo.” is somewhat overstated. There’s a degree of truth to it, but the idea that all these people were about totally upending social power dynamics and completely reimagine society like modern people in the 60s and beyond may desire. This is quite an anachronistic description of what was happening, unless you simply mean ending the status quo (Roman occupation) and perhaps also the man made oppressive traditions of the Pharisees.
Likewise, calling what Jesus did ‘a protest’ akin to the civil rights marches is also anachronistic, but I can see some value in contextualising.
I did like your explanation of Jesus as another type of King. Very much highlighted the difference between Messiah Ben Joseph and Messiah Ben David in Jesus’ different appearances (first and second). Not sure if I’d agree that Jesus wasn’t ushering in a new empire: Daniel foresaw this in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream: “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,”
Daniel 2:44
I agree with your interpretation of taking up one’s cross as one layer of the teaching. But it’s ignoring a key phrase: “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF and take up his cross and follow me.” This was perfectly modelled through Jesus: “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, NOT MY WILL, but yours, be done.” What preceded this teaching? Jesus’ rebuke of Peter: “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (Matthew and Mark. Luke doesn’t include the rebuke, but the teaching that immediately precedes it is there). It’s clear taking up one’s cross is about sacrificing one’s plans, ideas, and desires for God’s. But you are right in saying that doing so can and has led to martyrdom, it’s just that that is secondary.