On New Year’s Day my niece was in the Rose Bowl Parade. Millions of people lined up along the streets of Pasadena to witness one of the world’s most famous parades. There are bands, floats, celebrities, and thousands of people dressed in beautiful costumes. It is a sight to behold, the same caliber as the Macy’s Parade on Thanksgiving Day in New York City.
The Palm Sunday Parade, at least the original one, was minuscule by comparison. There were no bands, no famous people and no foundation or committee to make it happen. It wasn’t an organized demonstration or even a protest march. It was a spontaneous event, that involved people who had not gathered to be entertained but rallied around Jesus because they had been touched by God’s mercy. There were people who had their health restored, people who had been forgiven of their sins, folks who had an improved self-esteem and countless others who had experienced the love of God in some way.
It was a "rag tag" group of people who laid their tattered shawls and clothing along the path as Jesus rode along on a borrowed donkey. This was basically a gathering of "nobodies", outcasts, poor, kind of like the people on the lower decks of the great ship Titanic. You know, the ones who had no privileges, the ones who were "locked in" when the ship went down. The presence of this one man, Jesus, who lifted their spirits was the main attraction. By modern parade standards it was a joke.
The Palm Sunday event started small but grew much larger. It grew only because the word spread that this man, Jesus, who had touched many lives was coming to town. The event illustrates the fact that God doesn’t have to work in some grandiose way to be known. Recently there was a group of people in Garland Texas who were waiting of God to make an appearance in a spectacular way. They said God would appear on television. It didn’t happen.
God can be known in small, subtle ways. Through acts of kindness and love. Jesus had just had an encounter with Zacchaeus, the little guy up in a tree. This little man is transformed and gives his goods away and makes amends for those he had swindled. This little man made a major impact on the community in which he lived. Following that story is the man who had been given a single pound but did nothing with it. In other words, he had been given a vital resource but failed to use it. For this, his pound was taken away and given to someone else who would make use of it. That story illustrates the importance of using our talents, no matter how small they may seem.
These series of events; the little man, Zacchaeus, the man given the single pound, and the parade of unknown people illustrate how God works in small ways but with mighty results. One of the problems with people of faith is that they don’t believe they can make a difference. We are conditioned by the sensational, those faith communities which are doing mighty works in the name of the Lord. Since we live in a highly competitive culture we measure our worth in terms of greatness. We are unable to see the power and impact we can have with small acts of mercy and love.
For the Christian faith, this relatively insignificant event has become a major celebration in the life of the church. Here at St. Paul’s we will have one of the largest crowds of the year, especially since families and friends come to witness confirmation. For much of the world it is no big deal. But, for people of faith, it has profound importance. Our little parade of children who marched around the sanctuary waving palm branches is no great production and won’t win any academy awards. Behind all this, however is none other than Christ, himself, a man with a message with no agenda except to be God’s agent of mercy and hope.
Something has always puzzled me about the Palm Sunday story. Why would Jesus have his disciples go and bring him a colt? Unlike a king who would make a grand entrance on a stallion, Jesus makes his on a colt, symbolic of his humility and peaceful ways. But more importantly, the name of the man who owned the colt is not given. He is totally nameless. Jesus probably met him before and when the disciples said, "The lord has need of it," he knew who they were talking about. I believe he is symbolic of the legions of people who work behind the scenes spreading God’s love. They don’t make a big splash nor do they care about receiving any credit. The owner of the colt is just like the rest of the "nobodies" who rallied around Jesus that day. He too, is small but mighty.
Notice that the colt is "untamed." He has never been ridden or broken in. Yet, this is the animal Jesus selects to ride upon. This never-before-used young colt becomes an important part of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem. It too is nameless, small, but very mighty. The fact that Jesus rides on this untamed animal reminds us of God’s power to "tame" the world. And, the world can be tamed through small acts of mercy and love.
This past week was the opening of baseball season. It always amazes me that a little round ball, about the size of your fist can attract thousands of people. You can barely see it as it flies through the air but this little ball has become America’s biggest past time. Jackie Robinson made history when he became the first black baseball player by joining the Brooklyn Dodgers. But, it wasn’t easy. He took verbal abuse from other players and many fans. One afternoon he was having a rough time and the fans were shouting "boos" from the stands. Pee Wee Reese, the team captain and shortstop, walked over to Jackie and put his arm around him in the middle of the game. Robinson said later, "That may have saved my career. Pee Wee made me feel like I belonged." A small act but one with mighty results.
We can never underestimate how the power of God can work through a single act of love, kindness and mercy. One word, one embrace, one gesture of peace can have a lasting affect. We should never discount the small, subtle acts of goodness people do. They can have infinite affect on society and even future generations.
Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio