Palms A Symbol Of Victory Or Oppression? Palm Sunday

palms: a symbol of victory or oppression? palm sunday commemorates jesus‘ triumphant nonvio­lent entry into jerusalem the days before his pa

Palms: a symbol of victory or oppression?
Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus‘ triumphant nonvio­lent entry into
Jerusalem the days before his Passion. Crowds greeted Jesus by waving
and carpet­ing his path with palm branches. In light of his subsequent
crucifixion and resur­rection, the palm has come to symbolize victory
over death and injustice.
In countries around the world*, palm symbolizes not victory but
displacement and violence by internationally financed palm projects.
In Colombia, South America, whole regions cleared through acts of war
are being planted with oil palm. In July 2009, 123 families were
forced off their farmland, called Las Pavas, to make room for oil palm
plantations. Also, the community of Garzal is struggling to remain on
their land, while large landowners attempt to remove them to plant
palm. Christ­ian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) accompanies these commun­ities
in their efforts to live on the land with justice and dignity.
T his Palm Sunday, CPT invites churches and individuals to
recommit to joining Jesus in overcoming injustice and include the
Colombian communities of Las Pavas and Garzal in your prayer and
action. Together, may we work to bring God’s reign of peace and
justice in the world as we shout, “Blessed is the one who comes in the
name of the Lord! Blessed is the Prince of Peace!”
Detail from Pinturicchio: Crucifixion
with Sts.
Jerome and Christopher
*including Colombia, Honduras, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines
Litany of Commitment
L: Jesus, your family lost everything by fleeing from your home to
escape the massacre; and yet,
P: Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of God!
The lands where you lived and worked have been taken for corporate
pillage; and yet,
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the land!
Jesus, Palms once waved in your praise now bring profit to your
persecutors. You are threatened, called a rebel, jailed, tortured and
executed for seeking justice for land, people and creation; and yet,
Blessed are the persecuted, for so they persecuted the prophets before
them!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
All: And blessed are all who follow in his steps!
Jesus, we want to follow you: not as consumers using things up,
enriching a few,
But as conservers of God’s good earth, and all life that dwells in it;
Not as viewers, seduced by images and the idolatry of wealth,
But as visionaries seeing God’s saving action through the persecuted
poor;
Not as listeners to lies broadcast by war profiteers,
But as liberators of lives held hostage on both sides of the trigger.
Together with all your sisters and brothers struggling for life,
Jesus,
We join you in making the earth a place where justice and peace reign
and greed and violence are overcome.