This past week was exciting, because the new season of professional baseball began on Thursday. I have to admit that as I looked at the current roster of the Detroit Tigers, I found myself completely unfamiliar with nearly every player on the team. Who ARE these guys?? Of course, there is one name everyone (?) knows and that is Miguel Cabrera. Miguel is a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame and he announced that this is his final season. As has been accorded to many Hall-of-Famers in baseball recently, this year will be a triumphant farewell tour, regardless of how the Tigers perform. Cabrera will be honored and cheered at every stadium he appears this season. Lots of Pomp; very little Circumstance. It’ll be one season-long parade for Miguel. In this week’s Gospel, we hear the story of another parade. There is lots of cheering and people will line the streets to get a glimpse at the humble, yet famous, person who has engendered this outpouring of adulation. This parade marks the entry to Jerusalem of one who identifies with the poor and oppressed of the time. But, as we know, he is not unanimously cheered. The religious leaders are concerned that this fellow is causing too much of a ruckus and may upend their power and privilege. At the same time as this parade is happening, there is another parade occurring. It too, is happening in Jerusalem, but it is going on at the opposite side of the city. Each year, the Roman governor of Judea, would come to Jerusalem from his home in Caesarea On The Sea. (Disclaimer: apparently while this is a historical fact, I have been unable to verify it. But let’s go with it anyway okay, ‘cuz it makes for a great story.) The governor wanted to be in Jerusalem because it was the most politically volatile of the annual Jewish festivals and he wanted to be present first hand to control the situation. There is much pomp and pageantry as the soldiers and band precedes the appearance of the Roman governor. As with the parade on the other side of town, not everyone is happy to see this leader enter Jerusalem. He represents the oppression and violent rule of Rome over the Judeans. All the governor cares about is that nothing disturbs the peace or interferes with his power and privilege. What do these two processions that are occurring at the same time have to do with me? I have to ask myself which parade do I identify with the most? Am I in the crowd cheering and praising Jesus with hope and prayers that poverty, sickness and oppression shall be overturned for all time? Or am I cheering for the political power that tells me that, as long as they are in control, I will live a comfortable life and not be concerned with the cares of the world? Of course, my immediate reaction as a good and devout religious person is to identify with Jesus. Of course it is! Ah, but is it? In my heart of hearts, am I truly and honestly willing to forgo my creature comforts to assist those without? When it “gets real”, I fear I may not be as open to it as I might want to be. More often than I am comfortable to admit, I have missed the mark in this regard. Thankfully, God knows this about me and offers forgiveness. I accept it gratefully, and move on, willing to try again. I’ve learned that being a follower of Jesus is not about the parade, power or privilege. It’s about seeing the face of God in every person I meet in every place I find myself. And to be willing to give of myself, even if I really don’t want to. Every day.