A Palm Sunday Reflection

Who doesn't love a parade?  Children, seniors, youth who participate due to their band member status --- we love parades.  As a kid, the biggies were the Halloween Parade where if you were in a Brownie troop you all dressed as witches --- catching the ire of the more fundamental clergy in town who took the pint-sized gaggle of witches as the portent for "something evil this way comes," and would soon take up residence in the local Five and Ten.  Of course, the annual Christmas parade marked the arrival of Santa who was joined by his crew of candy-throwing elves.  These elves were not in the holiday spirit of tossing the candy, they hurled the tootsie rolls, lollipops and bubble gum with maniacal glee.  Those not getting hit with incoming, quickly scoured the street, sidewalk and even sewer grates to gather free candy.....it's all good...the candy was wrapped......

Why all this talk of parades?
On that first Palm Sunday two parades were occurring on two different routes with two distinctly different reasons.
One parade featured the power and prestige of the Roman Empire.  It was a showcase of wealth and a who's who of the rich and ruling. The Roman soldier's golden helmets and breast plates, their spears glimmered in the afternoon sunshine as they promenaded and surrounded Pontius Pilate astride his battle horse.

The other parade featured the teacher from Nazareth riding on a donkey.  Clearing the path for him were the disheveled, the disenfranchised, those on the discard pile of life. They waved palm branches and placed pieces of their clothing and cloaks for a makeshift parade route.

Think carefully, ponder honestly, reflect upon what route would you be placing your chair?
Are we not drawn to power? Are we not amazed by military bravado and bluster? Don't we feel protected and safe in the midst of all that weaponry and might? Don't we like to see  a glimpse of the famous, the wealthy, the seemingly put together perfectly? Let's be serious, a donkey is not all that exciting (I could make a really sophomoric pun about when you've seen one ass, you've seen 'em all.....) and a palm branch is so common it's not noticed.
On what parade route are you reserving your spot?

If I'm with the marginalized many, I'm in the parade along side Jesus, waving my branch and yelling my loudest. Yet, if I had a choice, I'd most likely have been sitting this one out...too many people, too much risk, too much hype and hoopla all surrounding a whole lot of uncertainty.

Whatever the route, whatever the reason behind your choice, the one point that cannot be overlooked is the meaning behind both parades. Do we trust in the allusion of power and wealth or do we trust in the Judeo-Christian God who has always acted to deliver us?

This Palm Sunday and Holy Week will be unlike any we have ever experienced. We are in a strange new world of heightened anxiety which can only be eased by that which for our safety we  must not do and that is to be with each other. 

More than ZOOM, so beyond FaceTime, I choose to believe that in our thoughts by which we keep hold of one another, in the energy of our hope and in the belief of the One who has promised to be with each of us , we are together in and through all of this  in a very global way.

Together in our prayers, together in our resiliency, together in our hope.  

The journey continues and, as they say, the only way out is through.