We like our leaders strong.
We like them strong because
we want them to protect us.
We like them strong because
the world is a tough place
and if you don’t want
to get pushed around
you need someone
who can meet force with force,
who can return blow for blow.
We like them strong because
we see our leaders as role models,
and would like to be strong ourselves,
or at least to feel the warm, reflected glow
of our leader’s strength.
we want them to protect us.
We like them strong because
the world is a tough place
and if you don’t want
to get pushed around
you need someone
who can meet force with force,
who can return blow for blow.
We like them strong because
we see our leaders as role models,
and would like to be strong ourselves,
or at least to feel the warm, reflected glow
of our leader’s strength.
Alas for us Christians.
There is a moment where Jesus
looks like he might turn out to be
the strong leader that we want.
There is a moment
when he rides into Jerusalem
greeted by rapturous cries of
“Blessed is the king who come
in the name of the Lord,”
and we think,
“Now it’s going to happen;
here at last is the one
who will keep us safe
and make our enemies pay.”
There is a moment where Jesus
looks like he might turn out to be
the strong leader that we want.
There is a moment
when he rides into Jerusalem
greeted by rapturous cries of
“Blessed is the king who come
in the name of the Lord,”
and we think,
“Now it’s going to happen;
here at last is the one
who will keep us safe
and make our enemies pay.”
Alas for us Christians,
that’s not how it turned out.
Our leader did not
make our enemies pay.
Our enemies betrayed him
and arrested him
and lied about him
and mocked him
and tortured him
and killed him.
And what did he do?
What did he say?
that’s not how it turned out.
Our leader did not
make our enemies pay.
Our enemies betrayed him
and arrested him
and lied about him
and mocked him
and tortured him
and killed him.
And what did he do?
What did he say?
Alas for us Christians, he said,
“let the greatest among you
be as the youngest,
and the leader as the servant….
I am among you
as the one who serves.”
He said,
“not my will but yours be done”
as his sweat became like drops of blood
falling on the ground.
He said,
“Stop, no more of this!”
when his disciples drew their weapons
to defend him.
He said,
“Father, forgive them,
they know not what they do.”
He said,
“Father, into your hands
I commend my spirit”
“let the greatest among you
be as the youngest,
and the leader as the servant….
I am among you
as the one who serves.”
He said,
“not my will but yours be done”
as his sweat became like drops of blood
falling on the ground.
He said,
“Stop, no more of this!”
when his disciples drew their weapons
to defend him.
He said,
“Father, forgive them,
they know not what they do.”
He said,
“Father, into your hands
I commend my spirit”
Are we disappointed?
Are we disappointed that he,
who was in the form of God,
“emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave…
humbled himself,
becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross”?
Are we disappointed that he seems
to have surrendered his power
just when we needed it most?
Are we disappointed not merely
because he did not meet force with force,
did not return blow for blow,
but let himself be humiliated
before the watching world,
giving his back to those who beat him,
his cheeks to those who plucked his beard;
not shielding his face from buffets and spitting.
Are we disappointed that he didn’t rage
against the dying of the light?
Are we disappointed that he,
who was in the form of God,
“emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave…
humbled himself,
becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross”?
Are we disappointed that he seems
to have surrendered his power
just when we needed it most?
Are we disappointed not merely
because he did not meet force with force,
did not return blow for blow,
but let himself be humiliated
before the watching world,
giving his back to those who beat him,
his cheeks to those who plucked his beard;
not shielding his face from buffets and spitting.
Are we disappointed that he didn’t rage
against the dying of the light?
But what if we are wrong?
Not wrong to want a strong leader,
but wrong about what counts as true strength.
Not wrong to want our enemies defeated,
but wrong about how that defeat takes place.
Not wrong to aspire to emulate our leader,
but wrong about what it means to follow his way.
What if strength
is found in humility?
What if the defeat of our enemies
is found in forgiving them?
What if the path to glory
is the way of the Cross?
Not wrong to want a strong leader,
but wrong about what counts as true strength.
Not wrong to want our enemies defeated,
but wrong about how that defeat takes place.
Not wrong to aspire to emulate our leader,
but wrong about what it means to follow his way.
What if strength
is found in humility?
What if the defeat of our enemies
is found in forgiving them?
What if the path to glory
is the way of the Cross?
Now we enter into this mystery—
the mystery of strength found in weakness,
the mystery of victory found in mercy,
the mystery of life found in death.
the mystery of strength found in weakness,
the mystery of victory found in mercy,
the mystery of life found in death.
Alas for us Christians
if we turn our backs on this mystery,
preferring the ruler of this world,
with his blustering power and his empty show,
to the true king who comes in the Lord’s name.
if we turn our backs on this mystery,
preferring the ruler of this world,
with his blustering power and his empty show,
to the true king who comes in the Lord’s name.
Alas for us Christians if we walk amid
the halls of worldly power,
rather than walking the path of the Cross,
the path that leads to the empty tomb
and the halls of heaven.
the halls of worldly power,
rather than walking the path of the Cross,
the path that leads to the empty tomb
and the halls of heaven.
Alas for us Christians if we trust in those
who have no power to save,
rather than praying that God,
who is merciful,
might have mercy on us all.
Father, forgive us,
if we know not what we do.
who have no power to save,
rather than praying that God,
who is merciful,
might have mercy on us all.
Father, forgive us,
if we know not what we do.
