The story is creeping toward a climax.
Jesus and his disciples – and countless others swept up in the mystery and miracle of Jesus work and words – are finally in Jerusalem. This has been the destination all along.  And Jesus has not been reluctant to tell his audience what might come of this holiday visit to the centre of the religious universe.

Three times he has stated it plain: ‘The Son of Man must suffer…he will be handed over, killed, and on the third day be raised.” Nothing good will come from this trip to Jerusalem.

It is the opposite of a modern political campaign – this slow, steady movement towards disaster. But that is a story for Friday.

On this day, disciples and hangers-on and who knows who else are witness to a strange and humbling thing: Jesus riding a borrowed donkey. Jesus headed for a Passover celebration like no other.

Their experiences with Jesus all come bubbling to the surface. The wave and sing, they throw down their cloaks and create an impromptu ‘red carpet’ moment. Jesus has been trying to warn them of the challenges that this week will bring – and he has been ridiculously humble for one so often associated with the miraculous. A hero’s welcome is not what Jesus wanted, but his friends have seen what they have seen. A hero’s welcome is what they give him.

The problem is not with the crowds. They are genuine and enthusiastic. It’s hard to know what constitutes a crowd in Luke’s account. “the whole multitude of the disciples…” is a strange way to describe them. In other places, the author of the gospel has not been afraid to describe a crowd – 5000 fed (not counting women and children) – so this gathering can be as large or as small as our imaginations allow. Singing – cheering – causing a minor ruckus at the city gates.

It is enough to draw attention. It is enough to bring the religious authorities to the party.

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord” they shout. A king on a donkey – with a shady crowd of well-travelled people. The Pharisees won’t stand for that.

The religious leaders have found a place of power for themselves. They might even imagine that they cling to it for the good of the people they are supposed to shepherd. The Pharisees are the barrier between the people’s problems and the Roman reality. And Jesus has constantly challenged that arrangement.

Jesus’ work and teaching – not to mention the miracles – presented people with a real and desirable alternative to the path to God provided by the Pharisees. Jesus points to God ‘in the midst’ of the people – engaged and empathetic; gracious and generous; interested and inviting. And the people – this throng of disciples, at least – has taken up the cause.

The Pharisees object to the shouting and singing because they count on the rhythm and ritual of the Holy festival. If too many people start asking questions, there may not be enough answers to go around. They require silence – they prefer obedience. They don’t get it.

“I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.” Change is coming – indeed is already here. This is not an anti-government movement, eager to swap one set of masters for another. These are people who have experienced God at work – God in their midst. They have longed for an ancient promise and have found it in Jesus. They don’t understand perfectly what that promise asks of them, but in this moment, they can think of nothing better than a world with Jesus in it.

The events of the coming week will turn that promise on its head. The powerful, when threatened, will show their true colours. Lies will flood the headlines, and innocent blood will be spilled. The disciple’s dream will die a horrible death…but the promise will not die.

Not all the voices raised in protest or praise are the same. It can be hard to tell if the shouting and singing is the sound of a wonderful new thing, or an attempt to cultivate fearful obedience.

The Pharisees thought they knew. And they were right to be nervous. Their coveted power was called into question. And they chose to protect their positions of power rather than to open themselves to the generosity of God’s grace.

It is no less confusing in our time. Voices are raised all around us – each one sure that they have the answer. Some have chosen to shut out all the noise – for the sake of their sanity. Life is quieter if you avoid the news and mute the political ads when you watch the ballgame. We may prefer to silence the disciples (of all stripes) but the path to justice and compassion will not be hidden. The ancient promise of peace and love will reveal itself without words.

Actions, policies, programs that offer support ‘for even the least of these’ – look beyond the noise for things like that. Look beyond the economic turmoil and find what benefits the widest variety of people – the voices of protest and panic are, in the end, just noise. But the way of justice, mercy, humility and grace will not be silenced.

The final act should have been quiet despair. The Pharisees set a plan in motion to silence the ‘Jesus noise’ once and for all. But the story will continue. God always finds a way.