Over the years I have come to learn that there are significant political undertones in the events of Palm Sunday. For us, 2000 years later, it's hard to recognize these political undertones; but anyone in the first century would have known that Jesus's procession into Jerusalem is a deliberate parody of the processions that Roman leaders often orchestrated.
When a leader like Herod arrived in a city, they did so with great fanfare. They arrived on a mighty war horse, or in a chariot pulled by a mighty war horse. Soldiers would line the road, raising their spears in salute, and banging on their shields, all in an impressive display of military power.
When Jesus arrived, he was placed on a donkey instead of a war horse. (Actually, here in Luke’s gospel, it mentions a colt, which is still not a warhorse.) And instead of raising spears and other instruments of war, they raised palm branches - symbols of peace.
Except Luke doesn't mention palm branches either. Did you notice that? I had to read through several times to be sure. No palm branches. What's Palm Sunday without palm branches? Why didn't Luke mention palm branches?
I don't know. Maybe Luke didn’t think that people holding palm branches was worth mentioning.
Anyway, it is clear that Jesus’s procession was meant to mimic and parody Herod’s procession. In fact, it is quite likely that Herod's procession into Jerusalem, and Jesus's procession into Jerusalem, took place on the very same day - perhaps even at the same hour: Herod arriving by one road, and Jesus arriving by another road; which meant the people had to choose which procession they wanted to see. They had to choose which king they wanted to honor.
In Luke's version, it says that, as Jesus made his way toward Jerusalem, "the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully, with a loud voice, for all the deeds of power that they had seen.”
They shouted out: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven."
Blessed is the king! (They’re talking about Jesus, not Herod!)
All this ruckus caught the attention of some of their religious leaders. These religious leaders worked hard to maintain the favor of both the people and the government officials, and they were worried about the attention Jesus’s procession was getting. They were worried about the attention it was taking away from Herod's procession. They were worried that it would get them in trouble, since Herod counted on these religious leaders to help keep the people in line.
So these religious leaders tried to stop Jesus's procession. They tried to silence the people.
They said to Jesus, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop!” But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out!”
The officials wanted them silenced. But they would not be silenced.
Anytime the people complain about their situation, about their oppression, about the way they are left out of the country’s economic policies, those in charge feel threatened. Anytime the people speak out, demanding something better, those in charge feel threatened. Anytime the people present their vision of a different type of society, a society where the poor are lifted up and the mighty are brought down - well, that really makes those in charge feel threatened.
So those in charge try to silence the people.
The religious leaders felt their own power threatened by Jesus’ procession. But they also feared that, if things got out of hand, Herod would take it upon himself to silence the people, and that would be devastating.
So they told Jesus to put an end to this procession, and to have his followers stop.
But Jesus said, “If these were silent, the stones would shout out.”
In other words: nothing can silence this. This is God’s kingdom. This is Truth on display. And one way or another, God’s kingdom will prevail, and God’s Truth will be made known.
Today, all over the country, and all over the world, people are speaking their truth - speaking God’s truth - and many of those in charge feel threatened by that.
And many of those in charge are doing whatever they can to silence the people.
In Florida, they’ve made it against the law to talk about gender and sexuality in school. That means that if a child asks why their classmate has two moms or two dads, the teacher isn’t allowed to talk about it. The teacher isn’t allowed to talk about or lead a discussion about any LGBTQ-related issue… because the lawmakers find that threatening, and have silenced the topic.
In seven states, it is against the law to teach critical race theory. Even here in California, some districts have banned critical race theory. The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District just passed a ban this week.
Teaching critical race theory is simply teaching the truth about how racism and white supremacy have shaped our country’s history, but some lawmakers see that as a threat, and so they’ve banned it. They want the truth about race and racism silenced.
In the news this week, Amazon is developing an internal messaging app, which will block and flag employee posts that contain keywords pertaining to labor unions. Other words and phrases that will be blocked and flagged include “diversity,” “vaccine,” and “living wage.” Amazon is trying to silence its workers, and deny them the dignity they deserve.
And there are many other examples of people with power trying to silence those who lack power or who are struggling to gain power in an effort to speak the truth. Because the truth is a threat to those with power, and especially to those who want to abuse their power.
But the good news is that, in the end, the truth will not be silenced. The very stones will shout out!
Different regimes have tried to silence the Christian message, starting with the Magnificat, the song of Mary, the mother of Jesus. “God has brought down the powerful from their thrones,” she sang, “and lifted up the lowly; God has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.”
That’s from Luke, chapter one. But many who claim to be Christian leaders want that message silenced.
When Jesus began his ministry, he said: “[God’s spirit] has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free.”
That’s from Luke, chapter four. But many who claim to be Christian leaders want that message silenced.
But God’s truth cannot be silenced. If the people are silenced, God’s truth will find a way. If the people are silenced, the stones will shout out the message.
What examples can you think of, of people shouting out their Truth?
Lil Nas X is a singer and rapper, and for some reason, he has appeared on my twitter feed several times this week, even though I don’t follow him. And what I see is someone who is not afraid to speak his truth. Over and over, he presents himself to the world, saying, "this is who i am!"... and every time he does that, there are those who try to silence him.
And yes, sometimes the way in which he presents his truth is meant to provoke and antagonize, and maybe you don’t agree with his methods or his style; but Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem was also meant to provoke and antagonize, and I don’t really see much of a difference between the way Jesus presented his truth by parading into Jerusalem, and the way Lil Nas X presents his truth through his music and videos.
Also: artists like Lil Nas X are inspiring young people to reclaim their own truth, and to accept and even affirm their own identities, and proclaim it proudly to the world.
It can be devastating to have someone tell you that the truth that is within you is not allowed to be spoken. Imagine someone saying that your truth, your core identity, who you ARE, is something that is so unacceptable, that it must be silenced. Erased. Not talked about…
Imagine being a transgender youth, and hearing all the anti-transgender hate that comes from many politicians. Imagine being Black, and hearing leaders praise white supremacists and condemn every Black person, every Black activist trying to live their life with dignity.
But if we can teach our young people - and show our young people - that who they are is beautiful, sacred, and a blessing, then we will save lives and help make the kingdom of God a reality.
No task is more important than that!
We are called to speak our truth. And when others have their truth silenced, we need to speak their truth. We need to be the stones that will shout out on behalf of those who have been silenced, until their own voices can be heard once again.
Because in God’s kingdom, the truth is not silenced. Ashley DeTar Birt, a Presbyterian pastor, writes that in God’s kingdom, we are all able to express our joys, tell our truths, and even ask the questions that need to be asked. In God’s kingdom, we are free, like the rocks, to cry out, to be loud, and to make whatever noise we need to make to exist.
Let the world hear your crying
Let the world hear your laughter
Let the world hear your hope
Let the world know your truth
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