A few years back in the mass for Christ the King, a lector at our parish proclaimed not that Jesus was "robed in majesty", but "robbed of majesty". Though she got the words in the reading wrong, the sense was right on.
We celebrate the same kind of confusing mystery on Palm Sunday. Jesus enters "triumphant" into the city where he will be humiliated and defeated, on his way to ascend to his "throne", the cross on Calvary.
In the last several days, we've seen lots of images of the most powerful political figures in the world gathered at the G20 Summit. Lots pf posturing and promising was made about how each was going to lead and how together they would solve the world's problems. We pray that some of it might come true.
But on this Palm Sunday we are reminded that, in the end, the only real victory and power comes not by way of strong militaries, high apporval ratings or treasuries flush with cash, but rather only by way of love. Indeed, this way of love necessarily runs right through the via crucis. None of those G20 leaders or their entourages have in their sights anything like the scene from Calvary, but with the eyes of Christian faith we know that that's the only way to true victory, to true power, to life.
Let's ask the Lord as we enter into another Holy Week, that the pattern of his victory on the cross might be lived out in our own world, in our own lives and in our own hearts. Let's not fear being "robbed" of majesty, but instead be "robed" in what is truly noble in the eyes of the heavenly kingdom.
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