It begins with a so-called procession into the heart of the city. People lined the streets screaming at the Grand Marshall as he rode passed them. They are not screaming words of praise and celebration as much as they are crying for help! From the angst of their oppressive situation, the primordial cry for deliverance is what is being shouted. They are drawn to this celebrity because of their certain belief that he can save them. This is not the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. No, this event took place quite a long time ago. There were not floats, or bands or dancers. The procession consisted of one man riding on the back of a donkey. So, what’s all the fuss about any way? Good question.
The aforementioned historical procession is the event that is the kick-off, the catalyst, the beginning of what is referred to as Holy Week or The Passion of the Christ in Christian faith communities. It begins with the commemoration of Palm Sunday, (the procession) and continues to events on Thursday and Friday with the big celebration the following Sunday called Easter. The belief is that the historical Jesus began the last week of his ministry by riding into the city of Jerusalem only to be killed on Friday. The following Sunday, after his execution, Jesus was resurrected from the dead. I know, it sounds crazy, especially if the Palm Sunday procession is de-emphasized as to the significance of the diversity of the people.
Although most of us enjoy seeing little kids come down the aisle of their respective churches, waving palms and shouting “Hosanna”’ this, if not addressed, minimalizes the bridge to diversity and acceptance that was being built during the 3 years of Jesus’ ministry. “Hosanna” means “Help us” or even closer, “save (rescue) us.” The shouting crowd was not made-up religion’s finest, but rather made up of society’s lowest. The whores, thieves, blind, crippled, bleeding, beaten, ignorant, and overlooked members or more likely outcasts of society were screaming for help and relief from the tyrannical empire of Rome. This throng of folks had been taken advantage of by the Roman empire and the church (synagogue). They wanted and deserved more.
If the same donkey riding Grand Marshall were processing through our community today, who would be in the crowd? It would still be the ostracized of our society, those who are still not considered as equal to the reigning white populace. It would be those who are still facing the tyrannical presence of racism, exclusion and judgement. The crowd would still be the whores and thieves along with the mentally and physically challenged, the Gays, the Blacks the Hispanics and the drag queens and bullied teens and women who have had abortions and the doctors who performed them, the mentally ill and children. Although not spoken in enough churches or shared to the masses, this Jesus guy, this Messiah (anointed one) this God/Man was always more concerned with the outcasts than the in crowd. If the reality of a God who loves us unconditionally is not communicated during Holy Week, it becomes holy shit. The story of God’s far reaching and incredible love that reaches through the muck and mire of our lives should never be glossed over. Holy week is only sacred if all of humanity is considered sacred and welcomed in all venues of faith and society.
AZ-U-R will be meeting again on this Friday, this Good Friday during Holy Week to celebrate the length, the depth, and breath of God’s acceptance. Feel free to join us at 7:00pm 318 Main Street.
Pastor Craig 