This reflection was written for the Devotions From Home series of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. It is intended to be a synopsis of the Sunday sermon sent to those who can not make it to church regularly. Audio of sermons and other material can be found at www.stpaulspgh.org.
April 9 - Palm Sunday
The population of Jerusalem swelled during the days
surrounding the Passover. Some scholars
say the city grew from 20,000 to 150,000 people during those days. You can probably imagine the streets crowded
with pilgrims, merchants, tourists and residents. Since the Passover was a festival remembering
the Hebrew people’s liberation from another oppressive ruler, the Roman
governor always got a little anxious around this time of year. Due to all of this, the Roman Governor, Pontius
Pilate, increased the size of the garrison in Jerusalem. So the day before the Passover each year a
column of Roman military would process from the West into Jerusalem, with their
swords and chariots and the beating of drums. This procession was meant to
strike fear in the hearts of those who saw it – a statement of Rome’s power and
might!
On this first Palm Sunday, there was another
procession. This time from the East,
down the Mount of Olives. It was led by
a different kind of king, riding on a donkey. Crowds of peasants from the
countryside joined him, and they laid branches of palms on the road as he
walked. It was a procession of peace, of
justice and humility. Some scholars say this procession was an intentional
counter-protest to the procession entering from the West that day. A sign of peace, in the face of military
might.
The story of Jesus’ passion is a story of the conflict
between these two processions, and all that they represent.
The question for us this Holy Week, and each day, is what
procession will we follow?
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