“…he humbled himself and became obedient
to the point of death—even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8)
I like to think of myself as a good
citizen of our Republic, and I’ve done my best to stay involved. Since moving
to New Jersey I’ve had the honor of meeting all of the gentlemen who have
represented me and the other folks in the New Jersey 3rd
Congressional District in the House of Representatives. I have to say, I really
liked all of them—even the guys I didn’t vote for. They seemed like pretty nice
fellows to me. But my current Congressman, Andy Kim, comes to my mind today as
I think about the symbolism of Palm Sunday.
My wife Marilyn and I had the pleasure of
meeting Rep. Kim a few years back at a pancake breakfast fundraiser for one of
the veterans’ organizations Marilyn supports. He dined at our table with one of
his staffers and his young son, Austin. I had most of my conversation with the
staffer (whose name I have forgotten—I guess it’s the fate of congressional
staffers to be anonymous) as Mr. Kim was busy—as a good dad should be—making
sure Austin enjoyed his pancakes and syrup without creating the sort of ungodly
mess young boys are wont to create. The Congressman struck me as sincere and
affable.
But it was January 6th which
really impressed me. After all of the events of that terrible day, after the
violence and the screaming and the barbaric assault on American democracy,
after 500+ legislators had left the US Capitol, after one o’clock in the
morning, Andy Kim was seen on his hands and knees in suit and tie picking up
trash on the floor of the rotunda. I’m sure there are some who would think that
janitorial work is beneath the dignity of a member of the US House of
Representatives, but Mr. Kim reminded me that those whom the voters exalt to
office are actually called to be servants.
Their greatest strength will be found in their willingness to be humble.
It’s the humility of Christ which Saint Paul
stresses in the epistle lesson appointed for the Palm Sunday (Philippians
2:5-11), and it’s Christ’s humility we see in the Palm Sunday gospel (Mark
11:1-11). Yes, there is much pomp and pageantry involved in the story which
begins our Holy Week observances. Jesus enters King David’s capitol city and is
met by cheering crowds who see him as a new David—a hero and conqueror who will
restore their nation to its former greatness. They even reenact some of the
rituals performed in the past when one of God’s righteous heroes triumphed over
an enemy. They throw their garments in Jesus’ path as was done when King Jehu
overthrew the wicked King Ahab[i]. They wave the palm
branches as was done for Simon Maccabee when he expelled the idolaters from
Jerusalem[ii]. Yet for all of this
fanfare, Jesus’ arrival is accomplished in a rather modest way.
Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Zechariah
9:9, “Lo your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and
riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” In the next verse the
prophet proclaims that this king will do away with the instruments of war and
“shall command peace to the nations.” If you think about it, the idea of a
grown man riding on a baby donkey seems really silly—and that’s the point.
Jesus has not come to this place, the place which will be the site of his
execution, to die gloriously in battle or to reign as a victorious and mighty
king. For all the regal trappings, the Messiah enters meekly on the same sort
of animal upon which might ride a small child.
According to Mark, Jesus does not hold a
rally or give a speech when he arrives. He goes quietly to the temple, has a
little look around, and then leaves the city to spend the night in near-by
Bethany. If ever a Bible story had an anti-climax, this would be it.
I’m sure the crowds of Jesus fans who met
him were disappointed. I suspect I’d be too if I were there. I really love
theatricality and pageantry. I love soaring high cathedral ceilings, grand
liturgical processions, magnificent chancel choirs singing thunderous praises,
and all the other ways our tradition goes about trying to capture the majesty
of God. Yet I know all we do falls short of God’s reality. I wonder if the key
to a relationship with God is making peace with our own inadequacy.
We are in a culture which worships
victory—victory over others. We have March Madness and the Super Bowl and all
manner of competition. Nevertheless, the higher we go up the mountain, the less
room we have to move horizontally. When we’ve risen to the top, we want to stay
on the top, and this is an invitation to stress and disappointment. In humility
there is freedom because there is honesty. We may covet strength and dominance,
but Jesus comes teaching peace and understanding. He is not a king to crush
enemies, but, rather, an example to teach us peace with ourselves.
I think the rabbi on the baby donkey is a
symbol of how God would like us all to be: humble. That is not to say we should
be humbled, for the God who loves us
enough to go to the cross does not wish us to be ashamed. He asks only that we
be contented with the servanthood to which we are called.
The gloss in this week’s Celebrate insert says it better than I
can: “Following Christ’s example, we do not seek personal status or glory but
care for others as God cared for us in Christ’s death.”
A blessed Holy Week to you all. Stay safe!
[ii]
See 1 Maccabees 13:51 if your Bible has the Apocrypha in it.
In 10 days or so, you will jump into my mind again. He is risen, INDEED! How sweet it will be after a missed Easter. Blessings to you and the flock at Faith.
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