St Peter's Abbey (from 696CE) Salzberg, Austria
(Photo krb)
We want the warhorse.
Jesus rides a donkey.
We want the eagle.
The Holy Spirit comes as a dove.
We want Barabbas.
Jesus stands in chains.
We want swords.
Jesus takes up a cross.
We want the lion.
God comes as a lamb.
We keep trying to arm God.
God keeps trying to disarm us.
Benjamin R Cremer (2024)
According to the book, 'The Last Week' by John Domonic Crossan and Marcus Borg which traces the last week of Jesus' life, in the year 30CE two processions head for Jerusalem. One is a rag tag group of peasants led by Jesus. The other led by Pontius Pilate the Roman Govenor of Palestine. He is coming from his headquarters in Caesarea Marittima, on the Mediterranean Coast (a much more pleasant environment than troublesome Jerusalem some 60 miles away). Pilate made this journey regularly particularly at festivals and if there was rumour of trouble. In this case it was probably both. It was the high festival of Passover and there was rumour of insurrection.
One of these processions proclaimed the power of the state and its dominance by force. The other proclaimed the coming into being of the Kingdom of God through unconditional love for all. What if those two processions came into contact with each other. Would there be reproachment - a recognition of the right of each to exist or would there be conflict with winners and losers. Perhaps there would be a reversal in which the winners become the losers and the losers become the winners in the end. One never knows what will happen when the power of God's love is let loose in the world. What do you think?
We continue our journey through this Holy Week.
Peace, justice and blessings to all.
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