March 28
Readings – Palm Sunday (MK 14:1—15:47)
In recent years, some historical theologians have started to call Palm Sunday the “tale of two parades.” On the West side of Jerusalem during Passover, the Romans had a parade that highlighted their might and power. It was meant to send a strong signal to the Jews that their occupiers were not going anywhere.
On the East side of Jerusalem, Jesus had his own parade which was meant to be a public demonstration and street protest against imperial rule and all those who held it up. Jesus’ parade highlighted nonviolence and the emergence of the beloved community as an alternative to Rome. And believe me, Rome noticed.
Over the years, as we continue to celebrate Palm Sunday in our churches it, like so many other rituals, has lost a lot of its original significance as our churches have actually become more and more reflective of mainstream culture.
My friend and theologian Ched Myers says this about Palm Sunday, “We need to undomesticate Palm Sunday in our churches. Jesus was staging a kind of counter-demonstration…[and] to really represent this gospel story in our world, we need to re-contextualize its symbols into our political moment, and re-place our witness back into public space.”
Think about that for a minute. Where would these demonstrations be happening? Against what “powers”? Who would Jesus be in these protests or demonstrations? And are these already happening in our midst but we did not recognize them as such?
For today, maybe we can reflect on what it might mean to “undomesticate” our celebrations. How do we stand up to the culture of violence that we are in? What expressions of empire need to be resisted? How do we create communities of hope and vision that offer an alternative to the dominant paradigm?
7 Comments
Barbara Simmons
We know Jesus would be standing in the midst of the oppressed, marginalized, and disenfranchised. We see the power structures that exists in our government, churches, and police departments. As individuals we can fight back against power structures that do not align with our beliefs. Vote for leaders that share your beliefs and goals. Encourage minorities to seek positions of leadership. Support minority owned businesses. Donate to causes that that lift up women. Engage with political leaders to voice your objections to voter suppression and laws that hurt refugees and immigrants. Teach children from a young age to treat everyone as an equal and valued member of society. Support groups such as BLM. Demand accountability of every police officer who uses his/her power to dominate a minority in a harmful way. Encourage education of police officers that brings them back to their original purpose of beings guardians and helpers of the people and not oppressors of the people. Try to interact in whatever positive way you can with the oppressed, the marginalized, the disenfranchised, and the poor in your community. Jesus showed us the way. We need to step up to the plate and make the world a better place for all people even if it is one small deed at a time.
Mike Boucher Author
Barb, I want to be you when I grow up! Thanks for all this!
Barbara Simmons
You are very kind Mike, but I owe you a debt of gratitude for posting these inspirational and thought provoking Lenten blogs. I have never posted comments on anyone’s blog because I didn’t have the confidence to respond. I was sure I didn’t have anything worthwhile to contribute. I took a chance here and you made me feel my thoughts are valued. God bless you and I look forward to more reflections from you.
Claire Benesch
Mike, I have so appreciated all your daily reflections and have used them each day for my private prayer. I’m going to miss checking in with you each day. I’m also going to miss the Tuesday evenings during Lent. All of them have spoken to me in an intimate way. And lastly, thank you for your awesome homily this morning. You are so gifted and I am blessed that you choose to share your gifts with me.
Mike Boucher Author
Claire, thanks so much for being along with us! I, too, will miss this amazing community that has developed through the blog. It’s really been my pleasure to be able to offer these thoughts and programs. I am also aware that I am but one voice and that there are soooo many people who could have written amazing reflections for us to take up each day. Maybe in the future we can have more and more voices represented here!
Francene C McCarthy
Thank you Mike for this view for which I was unaware had a different meaning than I had always thought.
Thank you also for an incredible homily today on the subject. It was the first time in many months that I had participated at in person mass and I was thrilled to hear your homily. I left today feeling spiritually fed. Blessings, Fran♥️
Mike Boucher Author
thanks, Fran!
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