For Holy Week 2022, we felt called to explore restorative reinterpretations of familiar Easter stories. These renditions are intended to inspire thoughtful consideration and action in support of marginalized communities engaged in the hallowed work of transformative action and righteous unrest.
Join us for Palm Sunday as Channing reads her poem, "Jesus Said Hello," and consider joining us in donating to MomsRising and The Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project to invest in a future of safety, protection, and celebration for arrivals of all kinds.
Before we begin today's episode, we'd like to offer an apology for yesterday's episode with Channing's poem, "Jesus Said Hello." It has been brought to our attention that the use of the word "we" in conjuction with the use of Spanish in the poem is inaccurate, incorrect, and destabilized trust in the poem's attempt to center the proper perspective, as Channing, the author of the poem, is white. I take full accountability and apologize for the inaccuracy and the harm caused by my lack of awareness and caution. We are grateful for those who trusted us enough to share their concerns. We will work and write with greater awareness and caution going forward. Thanks for trusting us and for your graceful understanding as we learn our place and purpose in the dance of justice and liberation.
Jesus Said Hello
I mean, I think that’s what he’d say
upon arrival To Jerusalem.
I wasn’t there, so I can’t be sure,
But I feel confident all the same.
People say that Jesus said a lot of things.
We weren’t there, so we can’t be sure.
But based on what we think we know,
We usually feel pretty confident all the same.
what I do know
Is that jesus arrived to a big city
After traveling a long way through the desert.
He arrived on a burra,
his path honored with
Hojas de palma,
Maybe we don’t know what Jesus said
Because the celebratory songs
Of hosannah
amado hijo de david
Bendito es tu nombre
Rang in the ears of the crowd
With the resonance of mariachi.
The point is
Jesus arrived.
And I can’t help but wonder
How the story might be different
Might be the same
If it were to happen
In a different time and a different place
Perhaps on A sunny sunday afternoon
In a desert somewhere
Welcomed by a path of barbed wire
And the raucous demands of border patrol guards
Who give commands
And take everything else:
Belongings. Dignity. Children.
Some might say,
Well yes, Jesus crossed
But Judas came too
and he was a bad dude.
And my point is
That Jesus loved Judas too.
What I do know is
We have forgotten that every arrival
Coming on the run from a shark’s mouth
Deserves banners heavy with papel picado
And echoing cheers of bienvenidos,
Fresh aqua and hot elote.
We have forgotten that
everyday in border towns
The sun rises on Domingo de Ramos:
Day of promise.
New Beginnings.
We have forgotten to say
Hello! Hola!
And mean it:
But lets not pretend
That just because we don’t know
Exactly What Jesus said
Doesn’t mean
That we don’t know
He meant amor:
Love, without borders
...
Immigration continues to be a controversial topic in the United States, especially in states on the US/Mexico border; meanwhile people seeking asylum are met not with celebration and protection, but disdain. Families are separated, children from mothers and fathers, who face likely deportation with no promise or timetable of reunification.
As we turn toward action to change zero tolerance immigration policies, we look to grassroots organizations such as MomsRising, who state the following on their website:
“As part of MomsRising’s mission, we have developed education campaigns to build public will for fair treatment of immigrant children, mothers and families. Our intent is to further a constructive national dialog on reforming our country’s immigration policies so that they reflect our values as a nation and allow for all families to contribute to our culture and economy.”
We also turn toward organizations such as The Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project, which provides free legal and social services to detained adults and children under the threat of deportation.
Please consider joining us in taking action toward a radical investment in a future of joyful, safe, and celebratory immigration this Easter season with a donation to MomsRising and The Florence Project.
