Palm Sunday – The Meek and Humble Rider

On Fridays I teach the middle school kids at OLPH a Bible study. That is the local Catholic school here in Rocky Mount. One of the things we talked about this past week was what the people of Jesus’s day where expecting from him, from a promised Messiah. From this man who was making himself out to be the “King of the Jews”. How would they think he would arrive in Jerusalem? Well surely they thought, he would come upon a white house as all kings do. He would have had a sword in his hand and would be ready to fight these wicked pagans at any cost. But how did he come? He comes into Jerusalem as the “meek and humble rider”, sitting upon a donkey and as Luke tells us he is weeping for Jerusalem. This is a far cry from what the people of the day expected. Or from what we too, might expect from a King making his grand and triumphal entrance.

We can see this great expectation with the crowds as they cry out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming! Hosanna in the highest!” (Make 11:9-10) “Hosanna”, “Lord save us”, they are saying. Come on Jesus, please help us to get rid of these evil Romans! They knew about a very similar scene to this from the Bible, in the Book of Maccabees. There two hundred years earlier, Judas Maccabees entered Jerusalem upon a horse, as he did we read, “the Jews entered with praise and palm branches, and with harps and cymbals and stringed instruments, and with hymns and songs, because a great enemy had been crushed and removed from Israel.” (1 Mac 13:52) This then was a celebration because a group of wicked pagan had been cast from the Land. So, it makes perfect sense when people see Jesus riding and palm branches waving they would expect similar results. But is this what he brings? After Jesus dies, Cesar is still on his throne and the Romans are still in power. That is why in Acts the disciples of Jesus after the Resurrection, ask him “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)

So, what then did the “meek and humble rider” bring with him. For one thing he brought to life the message that he had been preaching for three years. He showed the world and us, what in meant when he has said, “the meek shall inherit the land” (Matt 5:5) and “He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matt 23:11-12) Jesus puts into perfect operation his command to, “not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; and if anyone would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” (Matt 5:39-41) Of giving all and receiving nothing in return.

Jesus also through his death and resurrection took the greatest symbol of fear, hate, power, and death, the world had ever known, the Cross. And he transformed it, through meekness and humility, to be the greatest symbol of love and mercy, a symbol of life where there was only death. He turned a symbol of exclusion and intimidation, into hope and the welcome arms of God’s own personal love. This all began as the “meek and humble rider” entered into Jerusalem almost two thousand years ago. As St. Paul teaches us in Philippians “Jesus emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:7-11) You see if we want the follow Jesus into his glory, then we too must go through the Cross to get there. If we want to share the riches of New Life on the other side of Resurrection, then we too must climb the donkey with the “meek and humble rider”. We must in our own way make the journey with Jesus to Calvary daily.

How do we do this living today? How do we live out our vocation to be meek and humble of heart? We can begin in our own homes. If we get into an argument over something and even though we know that we are right, we still can “turn the cheek” and say, “I am sorry”. I did not mean to offend you, please forgive me. By doing so we bring love and mercy, the Power of the Cross, into where there could have been quarreling and fighting. Joy and peace instead of hurtfulness and broken hearts. What about at work, what can we do there? If someone in gossiping about us behind our backs and we find out about it, do not get angry but be nice to the person. Pray for them and show them kindness and not hostility. Bring the transforming power of the Cross in the middle of the relationship. Do not repay evil with evil, but evil with good. That is the path of the “meek and humble rider”. This is also our path too.

When we live like Jesus teaches us, by the Power of the Holy Spirit, we make God’s own love and mercy come to life in our own bodies, just as it did with Jesus. We do this when we die to self and live to God and each other. Becoming last of all, that we become in God’s eyes, the first of all. As St Paul says in 2 Corinthians “as servants of God… we are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything. (6:4-10) That is the description of a disciple of the “meek and humble rider”. To many peoples’ surprise, this is what a Cross shaped, Spirit filled life looks like in action.

St. Paul also gives us the glories conclusion, the result of this life when he further tells the Philippians, “Jesus will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.” (3:21) This is the path of our Christian life, from the Cross, to the Resurrection. From humiliation, to glorification. As we walk with the “meek and humble rider” this Holy Week, think about the difference that the Cross has had upon the world and upon you own life. And if the Cross has not make a dramatic difference in you life, then think about that even more! Consider those places where you can spend more time turning the cheek and going the extra mile.  Practice bringing Jesus’s Cross shaped love and mercy to all those people you meet and interact with daily. Work harder to cast out pride and arrogance and put on understanding and patience. Something the world needs a lot more of now than ever before. Spend some extra time with Jesus this week and dare to walk with the “meek and humble rider” at you side!