Now, it wouldn't be Palm Sunday be without the palms, would it? Well, you might be interested to know that over the centuries, in more northern climes where palms weren't available, other plant material has been waved on this day to herald the arrival of King Jesus. Lilac, for example, lovely and fragrant, and pussy willow-which we've contemplated through Lent in the beautiful arrangements Mike Eskridge created for us. For people who had no palms, pussy willow was thought to be a most appropriate symbol for this season, the bare willow branches appearing to be dead until the new buds pop open in early Spring, tangible signs of new life.

But palms resonate easily with us southern Californians, living, as we do in a climate quite similar to that of Palestine. The date palm, the phoenix dactylifera, in fact, grows there and here in great quantity. So, our Palm Sunday celebrations look a bit like the first one, with palm branches waving to greet the king. Palms have long been symbols of victory and triumph, used in pre-Christian times and by the Romans to herald military conquerors.

Now, actually, only one of the Gospels tells us that the crowds greeting Jesus as he entered the city were waving palm branches. Matthew, Mark, and Luke just speak of "branches." In Jesus' time, the other likely plant to have been waved in procession would have been branches from the olive tree, a common plant, and one of great import to the culture. And, of course, olive branches carry their own powerful symbolism as well, harking back to the olive branch carried by the dove to Noah at the end of the deluge as sign of divine blessing and peace. Still today, the olive branch is a powerful symbol of peace.

So, one contemporary worship planner suggests that we might wave both on this day-woe to you allergy sufferers-olive branches and palms for our King, symbolizing both peace and royal victory, both love and military might.

All to hail King Jesus, a king like no other king. Today our King enters Jerusalem, the seat of power and authority, religious and political. This itinerant rabbi from "nowheresville" Nazareth enters the city from the east, from the place of the rising sun, just as the Hebrew scriptures said the Messiah would do. Ah! In that very act, he puts the religious authorities on notice. And, commanding his own ride, as a Roman king would do, walking over the people's cloaks strewn on the road, basking in the glory of those palm and olive branches held aloft, he enters the city as if he were a king like Caesar! And with that, he puts the Roman rulers on notice, too.

On this Palm Sunday, we see Jesus leading, directing his disciples, choosing his path, facing the consequences of his actions, taking his teaching all the way to its logical conclusion, bravely showing both the Roman authorities and the religious hierarchy that he means business.

Who is he, King Jesus? He is the Messiah king, a leader for whom the world had longed and unlike any it had known. A leader who ruled by compassion. A leader who longed for his disciples to share his power. A leader intimately connected to God. A leader who cared not about himself, but about those he was sent to serve.

And still, he models for us the blessing of leadership as he invites us into the caravan of people who are followers of his Way. What can we say about Jesus as leader that will bless us for the lives we lead? What can we learn from him on this Palm Sunday?

Jesus blesses us with a leadership style that is no less complex and controversial in our time than it was in his own. For it is a style of passionate and committed leadership based on humility and empowering, self-giving love. It probably wouldn't win him an election-or us either for that matter. But adopting his leadership style might just help heal the world, just as he longed to do.

Oh, how we need leaders we can respect and trust and count on. In our time, all too many leaders have failed their high calling and forfeited our trust. Presidents and political leaders who lie, who deliberately mislead, hurt not only those directly involved, but all of us and the very foundations of democracy, as well. Priests and pastors who abuse those in their care wound not only their innocent victims, but the entire body of Christ. Corporate executives who reap excessive personal gain at the expense of countless careers and pension plans sacrifice the lives and families of their employees and undermine the strength of our economy.

Perhaps it is no wonder that in a recent conversation with some young people, only one could name a personal hero. Far too many leaders have betrayed our confidence, leaving as a legacy the cynicism and skepticism of our youth. Shame on them.

Leaders who abuse their power and authority were as familiar to Jesus and his followers as they are to us today. And so, you see, Jesus knew what he was doing when he gave us a new blessing of leadership, leadership worthy of our trust, our confidence, and our hope.

What kind of leader was Jesus? He was a leader shaped by a vision. From his baptism through his temptation to his first pronouncement of his ministry, Jesus knew that God had made a claim on his life. That God had given him the vision of a different kind of world. A world in which people would be healed of everything that separated them from God and from one another.

A world in which there would be room for everyone at the table. A world in which no one would live in fear. A world in which enemies would reconcile. A world in which hunger and suffering would flee away. This vision drives Jesus through the course of his ministry, right into the heart of the city of Jerusalem today and then on to his death and life beyond the grave. A leader must have a clear sense of direction, and Jesus blesses us with that direction and with that vision.

But a leader like Jesus does not go it alone, and he modeled that for us as well, what we would now called "team-based" leadership. A contemporary definition puts it this way: "Effective leadership is about liberation, about loving, about listening, about telling the truth and taking risks, about solidifying the circle of friends for the sake of the mission."

Oh, we know that those first disciples were often very slow to catch on, and that sometimes they wanted to turn their backs on him altogether. But then, so do we, sometimes, and their all-to-human behavior only serves to help us see ourselves as we really are, and not just as we'd like to think we are. How important it will be for us to come together on Maundy Thursday to commemorate the Last Supper. For on that night, Jesus again makes it so clear how very much he loved that bunch of disciples, his team, and how he entrusted them with the responsibility and privilege of carrying the vision forward.

The blessing of Jesus' leadership, you see, is finally not about who he is, but about who we become. We are the Body of Christ, and together we, the church, through the ages, carry forward the blessing of leadership.

None of us will ever be Jesus, and most of us will not be prominent leaders. But we all have responsi-bilities for leadership in a variety of settings-work, social groups, family, home, church. In a survey of most admired leadership qualities, the following list emerged. It says well the kind of leadership we all would like to receive and points us in the direction of leadership we might offer in our various settings.

It could describe King Jesus, and it could describe us. Listen, and hold your own leadership style up for review: "Supported me. Had the courage to do the right thing. Challenged me. Developed and acted as a mentor to others. Listened. Celebrated good work. Followed through on commitments. Trusted me. Empowered others. Made time for people. Shared the vision. Opened doors. Admitted mistakes. Advised others. Solved problems creatively. Taught well."

You see, the blessing of Jesus' leadership is for all the ways we are given to lead in our own lives, leading by example, by intention and by conscious choice. It is finally not so much about who he is, but about who we become. So, as we wave our palm branches this morning, let us open our hearts to receive him there.

Let us receive the blessing of his leadership for our lives. If our priorities and values are out of whack, today's the day to put them right. If we have abdicated any leadership we might offer-at home, work, school or church-let's claim it this day. Let's insist on the highest standards from leaders in every sphere of life. And let's recommit ourselves to ensuring that all leadership at every level is exercised on behalf of those who are most vulnerable and most in need.

King Jesus has come to inaugurate a new Kingdom. This vision will cost him his life. But his dying will unleash a power for good such as this world had never known. May we prepare our hearts to receive his blessing of leadership and lead in whatever way he asks. Amen.

NOTES
1. Leadership definition from Spiritlinking Leadership, by Donna J. Markham.
2. Leadership list from Net Results, March 2002, quoting "Credibility" by James Kouzes and Barry Posner.

© Patricia E. Farris, 2002. Permission is given for brief quotation with attribution. All other rights reserved.