Palm Sunday as Parody

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Peace cannot abide in a fist.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

My days overflow with goodness.
You deserve my thanks.
My nights are filled with refreshing sleep.
You deserve my thanks.
My life contains fruitful, enjoyable activity.
You deserve my thanks.
I know a great measure of love and friendship.
You deserve my thanks.
I have learned to share.
You deserve my thanks.
It is indeed a wonderful life.
You have my thanks.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Anybody know of a good tailor in the city? I could use a new robe for the demonstration this week. One without seams would be preferable.”

[Maybe a seamstress? He definitely did not say this.]

D. Blog: Reconsidering Palm Sunday

Yesterday we Christians observed Palm Sunday, recalling when Jesus led a parade into Jerusalem a few days before he was crucified. What struck me in hearing the story this time was that that event, assuming it actually happened, might have been a parody of the imperial parades into the city. It would thus have been making fun of imperial pomp and pointing to the misplaced values, the staggering contrast between Jewish religious values and the values of the Roman empire. It might have been Jesus’ way of saying “the emperor has no clothes,” rather like Jon Stewart of The Daily Show when he ridicules the Bush administration. But empires have no sense of humor, and certainly can’t laugh at themselves nor allow people to make fun of them…

We Christians also look at the story with little or no sense of humor. We see a contrast between the power of the Roman Empire and the power of love, but it’s all very serious. Suppose the procession into Jerusalem was more like a people’s party, however. Imagine it as a festival where the people have a good time mocking the oppressive might of occupying Rome. Not an alternative royalty-in-waiting demonstration, but a reaffirmation of underlying Jewish religious values of justice and peace and freedom despite the harsh realities of Roman occupation.

Anyway, I’m onto something that makes more sense to me than what I’ve usually heard and thought on Palm Sunday. Take that, you empires. Maybe we’re under your domination, but your days are numbered because you are much less than divine or divinely established.