WWJD

Today is the first Sunday on Lent.

For the season of Lent, I’ll be preaching a sermon series called “Walking the Palm Sunday Path”.

The series is meant to encourage us to follow Jesus along the path he walked into Jerusalem and eventually to the cross.

The series is one of several actions that are being planned by a broad coalition of clergy, congregations, denominational leaders, and faith-based organizations who stand for the message of Jesus.

Who stand for feeding the hungry and giving drink to the thirsty.

Who stand for welcoming the stranger and clothing the naked.

Who stand for healing the sick and freeing the oppressed.

Who stand for telling the truth and honoring the dignity and worth of every child of God.

Who stand opposed to the politics of hate, fear, greed, and division, that disregard our values and are tearing this country and our democracy apart.

The Palm Sunday Path is a national movement.

In New Jersey, I am helping to organize interfaith clergy and lay leaders at the state level.

Several of my colleagues in the synod are also doing the sermon series.

And on Palm Sunday afternoon, the interfaith coalition in New Jersey will gather in Trenton for prayers and singing.

The action is to stand in solidarity with folks in Minnesota, Maine, and elsewhere, who are opposing unjust immigration enforcement.

It is also to show our love and support for our immigrant neighbors.

Then, on July 3rd, groups from across the country will gather for a mass action in Philadelphia.

The action is intended to counter the military parade that is being planned for Washington D.C. on July 4th.

It will be a loud proclamation of the gospel to emphatically state that there is another way—Jesus’ Way.

But today, I preach the first sermon in the series.

We begin today with a look at the procession into Jerusalem from Luke’s perspective.

We will end in 5 weeks on Palm Sunday with a look at the procession from Matthew’s perspective.

So, why begin and end with the Procession into Jerusalem?

That’s a reasonable question.

We start with the Procession to show the contrasts between Empire and the Kin-dom.

As we progress through the Lenten season, we will examine the text through this lens of conflict.

And, hopefully, it will give us new insight into an old story.

And maybe shed some light on what is happening in our country now.

On the west side of Jerusalem, Pilate was also processing into the city.

But he entered on a warhorse with an army at his back.

It was a display of Roman power meant to intimidate and thus maintain order.

But Jesus procession was different.

His was a rejection of the usual symbols and privileges of power.

He rode into the city on a young donkey, accompanied by a crowd of peasants, who were waving branches and laying down their cloaks.

The two processions were a study in contrasts.

Pilate represented the Pax Romana—a peace achieved through violence.

The Roman peace was maintained through top-down, oppressive power.

Jesus represented the Kin-dom, where peace achieved through love.

The reign of God is the alternative to Empire and is maintained by the common good.

So, let’s dive in a little deeper into this contrast between empire and the Kin-dom.

The most obvious difference is displayed in the two processions into Jerusalem.

Empire uses displays of power to control people.

The Kin-dom uses displays of lovingkindness to encourage people to do likewise.

Empire uses military might to expand.

In the Kin-dom, people serve to improve the lives of others.

Empire uses violence, whereas Jesus encouraged nonviolence.

He told us to “turn the other cheek”.

And he told Peter, “Put your sword back where it belongs. Those who live by the sword die by the sword.”

Our country has the most formidable military in the world.

It is a source of national pride.

But what does it say about us as a country when we spend $1.2 trillion on our military and just $268 billion on educating our children?

Another difference is that Empire and the Kin-dom have different goals.

Empire seeks conformity.

Empire wants to maintain the status quo and the hierarchical structure

The Kin-dom seeks to transform lives.

Jesus said, we should take up our cross and follow him.

The idea being that we should die to our old way of being and rise again in him—forever changed.

So, what does it say about us as a country when we eliminate diversity programs?

When we legislate that transgender people must conform to a gender binary, rather than live as their authentic selves?

Empire and the Kin-dom operate in different spheres.

Empire is exclusive.

There is always one race, one culture, one religion, or one political affiliation that is favored.

And the favorite group must defend itself against all others.

The Kin-dom is inclusive.

All people are children of God—possessing the image of God.

There is no reason to defend against others because, as siblings, we are to love one another.

So, what does it say about us as a country when we deny entry to black and brown refugees from war-torn countries but encourage the immigration of white South Africans?

Empire always seeks revenge.

Any perceived transgression is met with violence.

The Kin-dom’s response to wrongdoing is always love.

Jesus said we are to love our enemies.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “l can no longer condemn or hate a brother for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble he causes me.”

We love our enemies and pray for those who have wronged us because they are entitled to the grace that God has shown to us.

So, what does it say about us as a country when political enemies are badmouthed, harassed, and even prosecuted?

In Empire, the enemy is always people.

But in the Kin-dom, it is systems that are the enemy, not people.

Systems divide.

Systems oppress.

Systems prevent people from living to their full potential.

So what does it say about us as a country when the top 1% earn 139 times more than the bottom 20%.

When the rate of poverty has stayed relatively flat while the top 1% is on a steady upward projection?

I’ll tell you what it means—it means we are on the wrong path.

It means we have aligned ourselves more closely with empire than with the Kin-dom.

I am not anti-American.

I love this country just as much as anyone.

But we cannot delude ourselves into thinking that all is well.

We are on the wrong path.

We are not feeding the hungry—the wealth gap keeps widening.

We are not welcoming the stranger—we are harassing, detaining, and deporting them.

We are separating families.

We are making people live in fear.

We are on the wrong path.

So, what do we do?

First, I think we have to ask ourselves much more frequently, “what would Jesus do?”

When our elected officials act as we know Jesus would want them to, we should thank them and encourage them to keep doing so.

And when our elected officials act contrary to the way we know Jesus would want them to, we have to tell them—unequivocally.

We have to say, “I am a person of faith, and my faith tells me that we are on the wrong path.”

And we have to say what we think is the right path.

We have to stop thinking that people smarter than us are making the decisions.

We have to stop thinking that we can’t make a difference.

We have to be followers of Jesus.

And we have to be clear about what would Jesus do.

Let us pray. Good and gracious God, hallowed be your name.

Your Kin-dom come.

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Holy One, establish your reign in our hearts, in our homes, and in our communities.

Help us to reject the power, greed, and corruption of empire.

Empower us to be ambassadors of your Kin-dom, living with compassion, integrity, and love—demonstrating your grace in all that we do.

We look for the second coming of Jesus and the fulfillment of the Kin-dom, where justice and peace reign forever.

In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.