On Parade

  In today’s liturgy Jesus’ parade and entrance into Jerusalem. In the Gospel Luke shows Jesus in control of events as he organizes his own parade to the place where he has an appointment with death. Throughout his ministry Jesus had to face the prospect of Jerusalem which killed the prophets of old; now he has to face the reality as the city confronts him. But Jesus faces Jerusalem with style. So, it is on with the parade! 

The disciples are told to go and fetch the required colt, and when they bring it back, they cover its back with some of their clothes for a makeshift saddle. The fact that no one has ever sat on this colt shows how Jesus’ presence is something completely new in history. As the procession moves off, the people throw their cloaks on the ground - an early version of putting out the red carpet to welcome important people.

  As the parade gets under way the disciples get into the spirit of things by praising God at the top of their voices for what he has accomplished in Jesus. The disciples organize an uproar of prayer, and a charismatic jamboree becomes an essential part of this parade. But not everyone loves a parade, and there are onlookers who remain unmoved by what is happening. The Pharisees suggest volume control, probably because this demonstration has messianic overtones. Is Jesus the liberator they’ve been waiting for?

  Jesus does not think too much of the Pharisees’ suggestion: he is in no mood for controlled enthusiasm. This is not the time for silence. The time for silence will come later. For the moment, the parade is on with all its loud rejoicing. The parade leads Jesus, as it leads us in today’s liturgy, into passion; the time of Jesus’ ultimate trial and death. Jesus has a rough time ahead of him. The last supper when his disciples choose to have a seminar on which of them is the greatest. The talk about betrayal as if it is one man’s problem. His chosen friends snoring through his loneliness and suffering. Being arrested by a friend’s kiss. Being disowned three times by the one you’ve chosen to rely on most.

  The time of being kicked around like a political football. Being flogged to placate a politician’s conscience. Being handed over to a mob because of political cowardice. Making the way of the cross without the disciples. All the time being watched and stared at. Exercising a talent for forgiveness right up to the end. Taking a last breath when all your friends are at a safe distance. The last time for being. Death. 

The parade which began outside Jerusalem leads to the cross, as we hear in the reading of the passion. In the passion we will hear of another parade where the mood is different and the absence more noticeable.

  Can we join the parade that Jesus began? We know where it is leading. Are we onlookers watching unmoved? Does it matter to us enough to join the parade? Today the Church asks us to be the parade, to proclaim that it matters what happens to him. We will not leave it to the stones to cry out. We demonstrate our love of Jesus; we demonstrate our care and our thanks that we mattered so much to him that he faced Jerusalem. So, we cancel the advice of the Pharisees and go public on our love of Jesus. So let our parade begin!