The trends of the 1990s are back, and among the scrunchies, crop-tops, and overalls, you may have noticed something else reappearing: the WWJD bracelet. The letters wrapped around a wrist are meant to remind the wearer to always ask: \u201cWhat would Jesus do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is, after all, one of the most formative parts of being a Christian, a disciple (student) of Jesus. The life and teachings of Jesus guide every aspect of our lives. We want to know what Jesus would do about anything and everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We ask that basic question \u2013 \u201cWhat would Jesus do?\u201d \u2013 with more desperation when our lives feel chaotic. And right now, as the news is filled with reports of the war in Ukraine, we are all especially aware of chaos and uncertainty. I\u2019m sure I\u2019m not the only one who has wondered, \u201cWhat would Jesus do in the face of this war?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the Chapel prepares for Palm Sunday<\/a>, I\u2019m realizing that the story we\u2019re about to re-tell gives us some answers to this desperate question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The focus of Palm Sunday is the story of Jesus riding into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey (Matt. 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19<\/a>), an event that came to be known as Jesus\u2019 \u201ctriumphal entry.\u201d It was like a parade: crowds lined the streets to cheer and wave branches and spread their cloaks on the ground before Jesus like a red carpet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But before I get into what all that means, I want to fill in some information that the ancient people in the crowd would have had but which most of us don\u2019t. I\u2019ll start with a story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 70 CE, Titus, a Roman emperor-to-be, conquered Jerusalem<\/a>. This came after years of fighting with Jewish groups who rebelled against Roman rule, so it was an important victory for Rome \u2013 and Titus went all-out in celebrating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He paraded into Rome, crowned with victory laurel, robed in royal purple. He was literally a god for a day. Companies of soldiers lined up before them; servants displayed gold and ivory; scarred captives in chains were forced down the streets; holy artifacts stolen from the Jerusalem Temple were held high. The rebellious general of the Israelite forces was tortured all along the way, until the grand finale, where he was finally executed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is what Roman conquerors did. They held a \u201ctriumph,\u201d showing off their victory and their spoils. And even outside of these huge events, Roman rulers often paraded into occupied cities with displays of violent power. It was a way of claiming power over people \u2013 power that should only be God\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This brings us back to the story of Jesus\u2019 triumphal entry. As he rides down the streets of Israel\u2019s capital city, crowds shout out to him: \u201cHosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!\u201d They\u2019re celebrating him as a prophet, as a messiah, as a true king. They\u2019re hoping that he\u2019s coming to throw off Roman rule and reign over them as the messiah \u2013 that through him, they will once again be a nation under God alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are enough similarities that I imagine some of those Israelites lining the streets would have remembered times they saw Roman rulers parade into the city, maybe would have thought about the bigger triumphs that they\u2019d only heard about. But there are enough stark differences to show us that Jesus does not claim the same source of power as the Romans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus makes no show of weapons, and instead of a warhorse he comes \u201chumble, and mounted on a donkey\u201d (Zech. 9:9). He is surrounded not by soldiers and captives, but surrounded by the stories of his healings, his feeding, his good news. The execution at the end of the journey will be his own, a sacrifice offered up on behalf of his people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Where a Roman leader would have chosen to display the power of war, Jesus chose humility, service, healing \u2013 the power of love. This is why I believe this story gives us some answers to our question: what would Jesus do right now?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Most of us don\u2019t have any way of really impacting the war in Ukraine. We can speak up to those who do have that power, we can protest, we can donate, and these are all good and important things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where we have the biggest impact is much closer to home, among our family and coworkers and communities. These are the places where the love we find in Jesus comes rushing out of us to challenge the forces that lead to all war and enmity and violence. The power of Christ\u2019s love undoes the powers of greed and fear and selfish ambition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So \u2013 what would Jesus do right where we are, right now? How would Jesus treat the war refugees already near us? How would Jesus respond to the cries of victims of poverty, violence, nationalism in our own city? How would Jesus lead us to love the people we see every day?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prayer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where there is hatred, let me sow love;<\/p>\n\n\n\n where there is injury, pardon;<\/p>\n\n\n\n where there is doubt, faith;<\/p>\n\n\n\n where there is despair, hope;<\/p>\n\n\n\n where there is darkness, light;<\/p>\n\n\n\n and where there is sadness, joy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek<\/p>\n\n\n\n to be consoled as to console;<\/p>\n\n\n\n to be understood as to understand;<\/p>\n\n\n\n to be loved as to love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For it is in giving that we receive;<\/p>\n\n\n\n it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;<\/p>\n\n\n\n and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014St. Francis of Assisi<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n April 6, 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pr Kate<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rev. Katherine Museus Dabay<\/a> takes turns writing weekly devotions with Rev. James A. Wetzstein at Valparaiso University, where both serve as university pastors.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The trends of the 1990s are back, and among the scrunchies, crop-tops, and overalls, you may have noticed something else reappearing: the WWJD bracelet. 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