Jesus was not the first to enter Jerusalem with fanfare and ecstatic greetings. Judas Maccabeus, returning from military victories, did twice (1 Maccabees 4:19-25; 5:45-54). Simon, Judas’ brother, was also met by cheering crowds who chanted praise and waved palm branches (1 Maccabees 13:49-51). There were at least 12 celebrated entries into Jerusalem by political and military heroes.
Jesus’ choice to begin his own entry from the Mount of Olives, followed a script of sorts. Zechariah had anticipated such an entrance. “On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem…” (Zech. 14:4). When David entered he
rode a mule and was proclaimed king. Hence the chant, “Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come.” The religious Jews would recognize the fulfillment of the prophecies and they would be filled with excitement and hope as they witnessed Jesus entering the city mounted on a colt.
Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem stirred up religious memories for the people. It should have also reminded them what had happened to the prophets — they suffered and were rejected for their message. Jesus is fulfilling what the prophets promised and we can hear in our readings today what will be asked of him — love and suffering on our behalf. Prophets of God’s justice do not garnish an enthusiastic following for long. To be a witness for God is a call to be faithful, even at the cost of one’s life. Jesus is our example of that reality.
Remember our gospel selection from Mark (1: 12) which began Lent for us? We were told that the Spirit of the Lord “drove” Jesus into the desert, where he was tempted. That Spirit was also the energizing force that accompanied and empowered Jesus’ public ministry and brought him to the gates of the Holy City to complete that ministry through his suffering and death.
That same Spirit enables us to take the steps to “enter” into the places where we are called to bear witness. We might not make an entrance into a grand city with a crowd ready to greet us; but have you ever had to step up for the rights of others? Ever had to enter, not a city, but a room or class to speak for what you believe? Ever had to go before a board of directors to protest a business practice that would be harmful to a neighborhood or the environment? How about the times you’ve had to put a foot forward in your family when one member was being maligned? If we have taken positions that caused us to stand out in public then we have Jesus, who entered Jerusalem today, as our companion.
It’s clear from what happens after Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem that the people missed the meaning of this day and the significance of Jesus. What we will discover this week is what the citizens waving palms would miss — that our God is a passionate lover who reaches out to us and who offers us enduring love, made manifest in the suffering of Jesus.
Any image of God as cool, aloof and untouched by our human need is shattered by Jesus’ willing entrance to Jerusalem and his acceptance of his approaching suffering and death. He could have taken numerous forks in the road to avoid the city and his fate. Instead, we discover again what the prophets have told us — our God is a passionate lover willing to go to any length to free us from our self-imposed prisons of sin and isolation. We again learn what being a disciple of Jesus requires of us, as individuals and as a community, as we witness this week Jesus’ love, commitment and self-sacrifice. Will following Jesus stir our passion to once again take up his cross and willingly die to self in his name?
If the gospel of Mark has taught us anything to this point, it has shown us that the task of acting and speaking God’s Word will entail rejection and even violence at the hands of the world. This gospel is not meant for romantics and the other-worldly. Instead, it is a sober testament that does not hide or sugar-code what Jesus asks of us.
But let there be no mistake, we cannot follow Jesus just by gritting our teeth and copying his example. As he was “driven” by the Spirit, so must we be. We need the gift of that Spirit lest we turn away from Christ when the road gets difficult. The Spirit clears our head of illusions and opens our eyes so we can see who we must be and what we must do as disciples of the Lord.
Jesus entered Jerusalem a long time ago. Now he enters our lives each and every day. We welcome him with songs of praise, “Hosanna in the highest.” Then we roll up our sleeves to do the heavy lifting he asks of us — enabled by the Spirit he is giving us.
Our society exalts people of strength and talents. We shine a spotlight on them for their outstanding gifts. With the proper perspective, there is nothing wrong with that. But Paul reminds us today that we have an outrageous God who comes to us in weakness! Haven’t we experienced that in our lives? When I think of the people who have had the strongest influence on me, most of them have not been afraid to show their human fallibility and shortcomings. Looking at them through Christian lens, I have seen what God can do through human weakness, for they also exhibited to me joy, dedication to the people of God, passionate love for the poor, humor at their shortcomings and a great confidence in God’s love and forgiveness. They put flesh on the gospel for me, especially the hymn St. Paul sings for us today. In their humility God exalted them too.
Paul spells it out for us today. He invited the community in Philippi not to consider themselves special or privileged, but to “make the attitude of Christ your own.” They were not to focus on their own interests and compete for high status in the community, but to be the servant to all, as Christ was. We who have a position of authority in the believing community today need to claim Philippians 2:6-11 as our “Mission Statement,” or as our “Operating Instructions.”
At the center of our life must be Jesus so that his love for humanity will be ours. Paul reminds us that our way to God is through humble service. We do this by hearing God’s Word today and acting on what we hear. For, as Paul directs us, our true freedom comes through obedience to God.