3/23/26 | Matthew 21:1-11

This episode of *When I Rise* explores Matthew 21:1-11, the narrative of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, contextualizing it within the liturgical calendar and theological themes of fulfillment, political theater, and theopoetics. The host reflects on how Matthew uses Old Testament prophecy not as a literal prophecy to be fulfilled verbatim, but as a poetic and theological connection to the past, drawing on Walt Brueggemann’s insights about how the New Testament reinterprets the Old. The episode examines the symbolic power of Jesus riding a donkey and colt—contrasting his humble entry with the militaristic arrival of Roman leaders like Pontius Pilate—positioning this moment as a deliberate act of nonviolent political theater. The host critiques the co-opting of Christianity for partisan political power, lamenting how terms like 'evangelical' have become tarnished by ideological entanglements, while affirming that the true revolution of love, as modeled by Jesus, is both transformative and non-threatening. The reflection culminates in a prayer for the church to be reborn in love, unity, and faithful witness.