Dear Friends in Christ, grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Throughout history, conquering kings and warriors have entered great cities with processions and fanfares. And curious, if not always adoring crowds have watched and cheered them on- myself included.  As a young 12-old boy in southern Minnesota, who admired my father and the men and women of greatest generation who fought in World War II, I was in awe of the mighty conquerors.  However, I remember distinctly the closing scene of the movie Patton, the story of the legendary, American Four-Star General George S. Patton.  At the end of the war, when Patton was relieved of his duties, he was seen walking off in the distance with his dog, and his voice was heard saying, and perhaps lamenting.

“For over a thousand years, Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of a triumph, a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeters and musicians and strange animals from the conquered territories, together with carts lad with treasure and captured armaments. The conqueror rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes his children, robed in white, stood with him in the chariot or rode the trace horses. A slave stood behind the conqueror holding a golden crown, and whispering in his ear a warning: That all glory is fleeting.”

The ancient city of Jerusalem had seen many conquering warriors. 350 years before the birth of Jesus, Alexander the Great entered Jerusalem.  The young 30 year-old ruler was welcomed with awe and excitement. According to Flavius Josephus, an ancient historian, Alexander appeared on an impressive steed, the powerful war horse that had served him in battle so well. The high priest at the time led Alexander to the temple, where the book of Daniel was opened to the prediction that a Greek ruler would come to destroy the Persian Empire. All agreed that Alexander the Great was this conquering hero.

Three hundred years later, the popular Roman soldier, General Pompey, who had crushed the revolt of the slave Spartacus, entered the city of Jerusalem.  It was, however, less of a triumphal entry and more of a triumphal invasion which resulted in the death of over 12,000 people. Having sieged the city walls, Pompey marched into the Temple and moved directly into the Holy of Holies.  That day the city became a part of the Roman Empire.

According to the evangelists, when Jesus entered into Jerusalem, he did not enter as a conquering warrior. He came as a humble servant, riding on the foal of a donkey.  We are told by St. Matthews that this was to fulfill what the prophet Zechariah had spoken generations earlier. “Rejoice, O Daughter of Zion, Behold your King comes to you.  Look he comes to you riding on the foal of a donkey, humbly.”

No, Jesus did not enter the gates of Jerusalem as a conquering warrior riding a mighty steed.  Horses were for battle.  Donkeys were used for work, and Jesus came to do the work his Father called him to do for the sake of the world.  Yes, he came to bring salvation and peace, forgiveness and hope to all.

My friends, that is the good news that we have to celebrate this First Sunday in Advent. And to rejoice. In the darkest time of the year, when the world’s future seems most uncertain, and peace among the nations, seems fragile and untenable, it is a glorious reminder of how our God still enters the world that he has created to save and restore it.  The world may be filled zealous conquerors inviting your loyalty and praise. Men and women who show no regard or for those with whom they differ or disagree.  They see the world as nothing more than a reward for their conquest, and their neighbors as a spoil of war.  Such tyrants will come and go.

But not Jesus.  He enters into our human story riding humbly on the foal of a donkey. He does not come to conquer you by force as the conquering kings and warriors of the world, but rather he comes humbly to win your heart and your affection, so that you will willingly welcome him into your life.  He longs for you to be a part of his unshakeable kingdom.  Yes, Jesus comes humbly to all, no matter how poor or lonely, sad or brokenhearted, strong or mighty.  He comes humbly.  And there is no one, whom he is not willing to bend down to meet and to lift up. The simple question you must answer, my friends, is how will you receive him.

For the conquerors of this world, “All glory is fleeting,” but those who welcome Christ and receive him, “Glory is just the beginning.”  Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and mind in Christ Jesus.  Amen.