Nothing Like Empire

We stood outside the sanctuary of our church yesterday morning, poised to enter it with palm branches and “Hosannas.” We do this every year on Palm Sunday to remember how Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time over two thousand years ago. But before we went in, our priest reminded us that the way Jesus entered wasn’t by chance. It was an intentional statement, a deliberate act of protest. Jesus entered riding on a donkey, surrounded by crowds waving palm branches (symbols of resistance) and crying out Hosanna (save us). At the same time, Pilate entered Jerusalem by a different gate, riding on a warhorse and surrounded by the might of Rome. Jesus knew that his procession would look nothing like Pilate’s. Because his Kingdom looks nothing like empire.

The most recent No Kings protests took place on Saturday. I joined one near my home carrying the sign pictured above. After pondering what to write on my sign, I decided to go with something that looked nothing like this regime. I stood by the road, holding my sign and waving at people going by in cars. Whenever the light turned red, the few who seemed determined not to look at us would begin to squirm. Maybe it was my imagination, but if they happened to glance at my sign, something in their faces changed. And some would smile tentatively and wave back or give a thumbs-up. 

There’s nothing quiet or meek about my sign. If taken seriously, it’s actually quite radical. Radically loving. Nothing like this regime.