Faith in the Cracks – Allowing God to seep into the cracks in our lives.

Yesterday was Palm Sunday for many American Christians. We go to church, wave palm branches, shout Hosanna, bonus points for kids leading processionals in church – but what does all of this mean? The event known in the Gospels as the Triumphal Entry as Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey is in all 4 gospels, each with a slight variance.

Scholars have continued to study the text and what seems to be going on. Although the texts talk about Passover in Jerusalem, many scholars are pointing to the palm branches being present during another festival, Sukkot. Whatever festival it was, Rome would have a larger presence for a festival to impose their reign and to remind everyone who was in charge.

Jesus and his followers did not enter the city quietly. They are shouting Hosanna, Save Us as they enter the city. Raising a ruckus and calling attention to themselves is not what others wanted. There would be people trying to quiet the crowd so Rome wouldn’t notice. But in Luke, Jesus tells those wanting a quieter march that if his followers didn’t shout the stones themselves would.

Sometimes we have to make a ruckus and draw attention to things. Jesus knew where this path was headed and walked it anyway. Perhaps we need more of a ruckus from everyday folks to move the needle on any number of issues in our country and in our world. Racism, gun violence, health care, and education just to name a few.

I wonder what the stones would cry out about today?