Code Switch on Joy as Resistance | Herod's Entry into Jerusalem |

Hello Friends,

Book group in Ferrisburgh, Vermont, Preaching in Sutton, MA, and next to New York City for an Episcopal Divinity School Staff meeting. I'm really looking forward to Palm Sunday as a day I have no responsibilities!

But first, No Kings III on March 28. I hope to see you there.

-Liz

Tactical Frivolity and Palm Sunday

I love roller coasters. I'm also prone to motion sickness. I learned that if you tighten your stomach muscles during the ride you will not get (very) ill. I first did this by screaming as the coaster ran, but people I love started avoiding sitting with me. So I switched to laughing.

It is highly effective!

I can't help but wonder if Jesus had this in mind as he paraded into Jerusalem. It had to be frightening to make this entry--this was the seat of power. And honestly, he was unlikely to be noticed. There was a lot going on.

Some say that Herod came into the city for passover each year, riding a war horse, extravagant clothing, and many troops, proclaiming his authority and demanding obedience. Perhaps at the opposite gate Jesus enters in an ordinary cloak, riding a donkey (or a donkey and a colt?), and deferring to the authority of God. Perhaps he had his followers gather the branches and coats as a way to attract attention to his entry. What a contrast!

Or maybe not just contrast, maybe Jesus was poking fun at Herod.

Or perhaps Jesus' entry into Jerusalem is a big party. The image of Jesus coming through the center of the party gives us a sense of victory and celebration. Perhaps it is meant to imply that Jesus is going to "own" the city. Jesus doesn't "buy" the city but his very presence is big enough to own the time and space.

Right before Palm Sunday many of us will be taking part in a No Kings Protest. Or Parade. Could it be a celebration? One great way to stand up for what is right is to do it with fun, with a party atmosphere, with ridiculousness. We've seen it in Portland with the images of fully armed officers facing off against people dressed as turtles, frogs, and unicorns. It really showed the absurdity of this moment.

In 2007 and 2012 people interrupted white supremacy marches by dressing as clowns proclaiming "white flour" as a joke against "white power". They threw bags of flour on one another (not on the nazis) and danced around the marchers. The goal was to disrupt with humor.

Slaves snuck out of their homes to dance. Abbie Hoffman and the Yippees threw money on the floor of the stock exchange. The orange alternative in Poland in the 1980s used humorous skits and plays to protest, and thereby got world coverage for the solidarity movement. In Bad Bunny's early rise to fame he took phrases from the Puerto Rican resistance and wove them in to dance songs, so that people were partying and taking a stand at the same time. During the 2000 IMF meeting in Prague protestors included a "tactical frivolity" group that had a Samba band and women dressed as fairies.

Groups have used magic wands, tossed spaghetti, and invited "radical cheerleaders". Billionaires for Bush staged convention antics. One man simply joined a small Nazi march playing his sousaphone such that they could not communicate with one another. The "moon the klan" counter protest is exactly what it sounds like.

Laughter, fun, joy, it all helps others to see what we are saying. It opens everyone to more vulnerability, and vulnerability leads to learning new things. Our scripture labels Jesus entry as "triumphant" but perhaps it was a "trumpet"--load and invasive, and easy to join because it was so much fun.

What are your Palm Sunday plans? Reply to this email to let me know what's happening. ​
​

This scholar describes Herod's entry into Jerusalem for the passover feast.

The Podcast Code Switch asks Is Joy is an Act of Resistance? And then argues both sides! (37 minutes)

Please forward this email to others who might be interested. If you got this from someone else, use the button below to subscribe to the free Act! Be Church Now email newsletter.