Protests and Parades
Jesus’ march to Jerusalem at the start of Holy Week is full of clues for us today.
Scripture study tells us that there were likely two marches happening that week:
Jesus, coming from the east, and Pilate, from the west.
The backdrop for the scene is the Feast of Passover. Passover in the ancient world (when there was still a temple standing in Jerusalem) was a remarkable, exciting, high-energy, and chaotic time. As one of the three hagim, all Jewish folk were expected to make the journey to Jerusalem in celebration and honor of God’s deliverance from slavery in the ‘Egyptian empire of old.’
Now, I haven’t suddenly forgotten what day it is and that we are well past Holy Week. But in these volatile days, my mind keeps coming back to those protest-filled Palm Sunday events.
The Feast of Passover in the ancient world was an exciting time and a volatile one.
Thus, the march from the west: The Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate leading a full military cavalry to either intimidate overzealous Passover revolutionaries, or to be armed and ready to step in should a direct action need to be suppressed. The pomp and circumstance of this march serves both a reminder and a real, tangible threat of the lethal power of the empire.
This is a far cry from the kind of reminder that we’ve received from Jesus: reminders of belovedness and grace, reminders that there can be healing and wholeness alongside sorrow, reminders that to be in community with others is to love first, and love often.
Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem in Matthew can be read as a counter march. It is a parody of the Roman show of power, an act of street theatre, according to Borg, Crossan, and Myers.
On the road into Jerusalem, Jesus changes the script.
Pilate’s soldiers marched in official formation, weapons in hand. The disciples tumbled alongside Jesus who was somehow riding not one but two animals (you’re welcome to think about how that would work but it’s not meant to be sensical). Instead of weapons, there are palm branches. It is pageantry so confusing it makes one pause. Amongst Jesus’ friends, you might imagine the string of questions:
“Is this really effective? What will this actually accomplish?”
Or, “This is dangerous- people can be so unpredictable, what if we upset someone?”
And, “Whose donkey is that?!”
Amidst a people crying out for deliverance from their colonizers, Jesus does not size up to the Roman military aggression for aggression. It is far more creative than that. Parallel to Pilate’s formally arranged show of force, Jesus’ entry on a borrowed donkey and colt seems random and chaotic, though it contains no fewer signals and cues as to its meaning.
So what does Palm Sunday have to do with where we are here in the middle of June?
The most recent military escalation of ICE raids in the neighborhoods of Los Angeles and around the country have been extremely disturbing. “In Los Angeles, ICE operations waited, detained and arrested people who were entering a federal court building following the process for legal citizenship, leading thousands of people to protest. In response, federal troops have been deployed by the Trump administration without the consent of local or state authorities” (GBCS).
Daily reports from our clergy colleagues in Los Angeles have been sobering. They describe their peaceful vigil receiving a response of aggression from the military, being boxed in to be arrested during peaceful protest after the vigil. Others describe the use of teargas when peaceful protesters tried to return to their cars parked at a cathedral in order to get home before the mandated curfew.
A peaceful vigil on one side, the National Guard on the other.
Jesus, coming from the east, and Pilate, from the west.
This arranged show of force has not compromised the protesters commitment to be a peaceful witness to resist unjust authority (ENS). Faith leaders are also careful not to vilify the public servants who are involved, but rather to denounce the policies and practices that have led to these events. Regardless, this is not normal. This is not okay. We cannot become anesthetized to the turmoil.
We continue to be in prayer that seeks action for all those being detained on their way to school, work, the courthouse, or simply trying to care for their families the best they can. We continue to be in prayer that seeks action for those speaking out against unjust authority and policies. We continue to be in prayer that seeks action for our own community as each of us discerns our own action in these days.
I know that many plan to protest here in our own city this Saturday. When you do so, I implore you: be peaceful, be safe, be prepared, and most of all, be bold. Do not size up aggression for aggression. Embody not Pilate, but the followers of Jesus with their cries for deliverance and palm branch.
Jesus’ march toward Jerusalem teaches us much about the protest of unjust power. May we follow in the example of Palm Sunday as we take one more step toward peace and justice together.
In hope,
Pastor Karyn