When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, he was revealing that the reign of God is in stark contrast to the reign of Rome and every other political system that seeks triumphant victory by influencing people through violence and coercion.
The Gospel of Jesus subverts the politics of violence because the Gospels is the politics of humility, service, forgiveness, and a nonviolent love that embraces all people, but especially those we call our enemies.
Tragically, we tend to live by the politics of Rome, not the politics of Jesus. Whether we are Republicans or Democrats, American or Russian, whenever we seek to influence others through coercion and violence, we are following the politics of Rome.
Fortunately, Jesus revealed the alternative. He called it “The Kingdom of God.” It’s a political way of life based not on triumphant violence, but rather humble service. The politics of Jesus makes sure everyone has daily bread, it seeks to forgive debts and sins, it avoids the temptation to commit evil against our neighbors, and it calls us into a life of forgiveness.
But this is risky. We know that the politics of Jesus led him to Good Friday, where he suffered and died. And yet he stayed true to the Kingdom of God, speaking words of forgiveness even as he was murdered, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
– Adam Eriksen
Excerpted from "The Subversive Politics of Palm Sunday"
Patheos
March 19, 2016
Excerpted from "The Subversive Politics of Palm Sunday"
Patheos
March 19, 2016
See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
• Palm Sunday: "A Planned Political Demonstration"
• Palm Sunday Around the World
• Palm Sunday at the Chancery
• Prayer of the Week – April 17, 2011
• The Most Dangerous Kind of Rebel
• Why Jesus is My Man
Image: Benedictine Sisters of Turvey Abbey.
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