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It was a stunning defeat. For seventeen years, Richard Hatfield led the Conservative Government; (He was Premier of New Brunswick, a Canadian Province) through four election victories, not to mention a number of scandals, both political and private. Then in 1987, a young leader named Frank McKenna led a liberal tide that gave his party EVERY seat in the Legislative Assembly. The once proud Hatfield resigned almost immediately. Of course, the liberal popularity did not last forever either, and we now have another Conservative government in Fredericton. The capital of the province of New Brunswick That's the nature of politics - from boom to bust in a few elections. It is also the nature of much in our culture. One week a certain singing group, star or a certain kind of jeans is 'in' and the next week you have to go shopping and buy something else! We want to be popular and we want to like what is popular. We want to be part of the in crowd. We want to be noticed, but for being better or smarter or richer than others. We do NOT want to stand out for being different.
Today's reading from Mark's gospel is a story of victory, it is a joyous and boisterous post- election celebration; Jesus has taken every seat in the House. On Friday though, when the budget comes down, and people realize the cost of following this new "servant-leader", he will be turfed out, lose it all and be lifted up in defeat. On Friday he will die as a cond emned criminal, in a fashion similar to the victims of many violent coups and political upheavals throughout history.
But wait, isn't there something wrong with the picture I have just drawn?! Jesus is not a politician. Jesus is not running a tin pot dictatorship. Jesus is a spiritual leader who called people to a closer relati onship with God. Of course WE are followers. We have the benefit of almost 2000 years of history.
It seems though, that the people of Palestine and Galilee thought that he did come to be a political leader. While a conquering hero usually rode into town on the back of a fine horse, he rode into town sitting on t he back of a bony donkey and the people still shouted "Hosanna". As I understand it, "Hosanna" was not necessarily a religious word. While it meant, "save us now!" and it had decidedly political and very immediate conno tations. Religion and politics was not well separated for the people of Israel. The hope for a messiah was closely connected to their hopes to be a great nation once again, as they had been under King David long before.
Despite what the people waving those branches thought; despite what the people who spread their cloaks on the road thought, Jesus did not come to be a politician, nor did he come to be in a popularity contest. He di d not come to win votes, nor to exercise any human kind of power.
He was interested in the Kingdom of God not the Kingdom of David. He called people to journey with him, to the cross. Now any potential leader who promises defeat and hardship, rather than victory and 'better times ' will not likely win at the party's leadership convention, let alone a provincial or federal election. Even when the newly elected Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, spoke to the British House of Commons and said, "I have nothing to offer but bloo d, toil, tears and sweat", the people knew that it was a sacrifice necessary for victory. As we know, in times of peace, everyone wants the new leader to provide political salvation: balance the budget, pay off the accum ulated debt, cut taxes and add programs and services. Should be simple! In Jesus' day the political wish list was something like, 'Overthrow the Romans and bring in the rule of our ancestor David'. It was the classic wish for the 'good old days'.
Jesus had other ideas though. Unlike modern day politicians who promise the moon and who cannot deliver, Jesus kept trying to tell his followers that he was NOT going to be the kind of Messiah they wanted. Jesus co ntinued to challenge people's expectations. He talked about service rather than success. He talked about the paradox inherent in the phrase " the freedom of serving God".
While he was not political though, as we usually understand the term, his teachings, if followed, meant that the social fabric would radically change. The poor would be cared for and the strong and powerful would put down the swords by which the people were oppressed.
So here we have Jesus, a small town rabbi, riding into town and the crowds flock to him. What IS going on? We may wonder why this turned into such a big deal, but we must keep several factors in mind. These event s take place during the weekend of the Passover. Like the modern Olympic Games, the Passover drew enormous crowds. Historians tell us that this major pilgrimage festival drew over 3 MILLION visitors. For many pilgrims this was a "once in a lifetime" trip' they were going to experience everything they could. Away from home, and the responsibilities associated with home, these pilgrims would likely have been more inclined to emotional outbursts and to become part of an almost instant crowd. We know that people in emotionally charged crowds will do things that they wouldn't likely do alone; such as overturning cars, breaking plate glass windows and looting stores and throwing ticker tape or perhaps waving p alm branches. Watch out though, a crowd can change emotions in the blink of an eye. Holy Week is a kind of crash course in the changeability of crowds. At the start of Holy Week you'd think that the people believed that this Jesus could do anything but by Friday morning his name was MUD! The praising crowd had turned from "Hosanna" to "CRUCIFY HIM".
There's a danger with asking people to join anything when the group is on a roll. Anyone would want to join a winning team, but certainly not a losing one. On Friday this Christian team will appear to be losing an d we might all want to jump ship. Today we all look ahead to the rest of Holy Week and we pray for the strength to stay the course, the will to finish the race, the courage to stand by our Jesus.
Today in St. Stephen's we receive new members by re-affirmation of their baptismal faith, and we baptize a baby whose parents make promises of faith and commitment to the Christian faith. We as a community (made) make promises to support and nurture Kyla, John, Thane, Becky, Stacey and Doreen and to support them in their faith journey. While confirmation is the end of a process it is not the end of a journey. It is a this poin t that the going gets rough. Holy week challenges our commitment. Holy Week calls us to go into an unknown future. Holy Week asks us to trust in this Jesus, DESPITE all of the evidence to the contrary.
Christianity is not about success, at least success as the world sees it. It seems to me that Jesus teachings turned society, politics and religion on their heads. The Christian faith prompts us to reassess our val ues and assumptions about what is important and what is to be sought after.
On this high day of celebration we are given a glimpse of the future and we are asked some important questions such as: "Are you really sure you want to be here?" and "Are you ready for what's going to happen next?" The promise is greater than the danger but the danger is still great
There is still time to escape; there is still time to drift to the back of the crowd and to avoid recognition as "one of those". There is still time to deny Jesus like Peter did, there is still time to run and hide, there is still time to stuff those palms into our pock ets before anyone else sees them.
Well now that you have decided to stay and sign on for the long haul I will tell you that we are promised God's never ending and strengthening presence to support us on our journey. We are promised that we will expe rience the power of God in its fullest expression when death and sin is defeated on Easter Sunday morning. We WILL need that presence and that vision for the week that lies ahead of us, just as we will need that presence in the difficult times of our lives. We will need that presence when the world looks down on us for marching to the beat of a different drummer. We will need that presence when our choices make make life harder instead of easier and as we seek to be the kind of people this Jesus has called us to be. God's Spirit will give us the strength and the courage to shout our Hosannas throughout the coming week and even into the rest of the year.
Will you come with me. The dangers are great and they are real, but the promises are quite awesome.
Amen
