Ask Jesus to disturb us

Today we celebrate one of the greatest days of our Christian faith. We commonly refer this day as the Palm Sunday because of the fact that those who welcomed Christ on his triumphant entry to Jerusalem waved Palms and their clothes as an expression of participation in the celebration that lead the city into turmoil. (Mt. 2110). Palm leaf is a symbol of triumph.

Most importantly King Solomon had palm branches carved into the walls and doors of the temple, this may be because palm is one of the abundant plants in Jerusalem:

On the walls all around the temple, in both the inner and outer rooms, he carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers. (1 Kings 6:29)

The significance of palm in this sense brings this triumphant entry of Jesus within the walls of Jerusalem through the gate of the city more of a living event than a decorative icon. The stage where palm is a mere decoration has passed and is now used to express joy and gladness in an event that ushers new meanings and fulfillment to prophesies, and bringing to life the symbols.

The entry of Jesus to Jerusalem was well decorated. However, what follows after that is turmoil as Matthew states (21:10). This happy event did not last long. Following this pericope is the tension Jesus ignited with the people, the chief priests and scribes when he overturned the tables of commerce in the Temple and criticized the system that was going on.

This triumphant entry ushered several more tensions in his teachings which were disturbing for the status quo of Jerusalem and the Religious pedestal. Jesus openly denounced the Pharisees and chief priests, he foretold the destruction of the Temple, the persecution, the end of time and the judgment day all leading up to his arrest and death.

Jesus challenged the preconceptions of the people of Jerusalem and that of the Scribes and Pharisees and chief priests. He was shaking the foundations upon which they have been founded by Moses and point out them how Judaism turned out to be oppressive and pharisaical. He was challenging the status quo in order for the people to realize how far they have deviated from the real essence of Judaism.

In a way, we could say that Jesus’ coming could be likened to the Pandemic we now experience in a way that it has revealed many failings of our current status quo.

Corona Virus have lead us to realize our failings in relationships as parents to our Children, as spouse, as children to our aging parents, and have now given us time to rectify our failings.

Corona Virus have made us realize the value of human life over money we earn by killing us to work for it. Life is always the standard in our existence and in all social concerns.

Corona Virus have made us realize that before the feet of death and sickness, we are all the same.

It has made us realize the beauty of rest, it made us experience the warmth of our homes which we have forgotten because of the cold culture in our offices.

It has made us realize that caring for one another, concern for everyone must always take precedence and that the picture of people caring for one another is a beauty we must always aspire for.

It made us realize we are humans and vulnerable like the rest. Money has no value when consumerism and business halts. What is left that is valuable is life and relationships. Suddenly, wealth have no value on the fundamental sense.

Jesus have disturbed the scribes, the pharisees, and the people in their slumber of preconceptions because he was fighting for something new and that is the values of the Kingdom of God.

In this Holy Week, let us allow Jesus to disturb us and cast turmoil in our hearts and ask him to lead us towards genuine victory.