This reflection was written by Jesse Zink for this week’s Wingèd Ox, a weekly news digest distributed to the college community. You will find reflections from previous weeks here.

Dear colleagues, 

Some of you will know that I’ve spent time working with and visiting the church in South Sudan. Among the many memories I have of visits to that country, one that stands out is the habit among many Christians there of marching or processing in public. On several occasions while traveling to remote villages with a bishop or other church leader, we would be greeted by a large procession of Christians who were singing, waving crosses, or otherwise drawing attention to themselves—and by extension to their church, to their leaders, to Jesus, and to God. (You can see a picture of one of these in the online version of this reflection, and I wrote a longer reflection on these processions about a dozen years ago.) 

This is the last Winged Ox of the academic year and I have been thinking about those processions because of a quirk of the calendar this year. This coming weekend—the first weekend after the end of the teaching semester—is Palm Sunday, a moment that recalls when the people of Jerusalem came out in procession to greet Jesus as he rode into the city. Palm Sunday comes at the end of Lent, traditionally the period of the church year that is set aside for reflection and growth. Though this doesn’t quite follow the chronology of the Biblical story, I like how the church year teaches us in the transition from Lent to Palm Sunday that we are called to move from temporary withdrawal to public demonstration, from spiritual growth to communal action in the world. 

There is a similar dynamic in theological colleges as well. One way of looking at theological education is as a period of growth and development—academic, ministerial, spiritual, relation. In this analogy, it’s a kind of Lent (notwithstanding, of course, that many of you are engaged in thriving ministries during your time studying here and that field placements are an integral part of the learning). But what this theological education is called to issue in is ministry in the church and in the world. That ministry, I think, is one that is public, engaging, and draws attention to the church, to Jesus, and to God.  

In an environment like Quebec, which makes every effort to confine religion to a private sphere of individual concern, public ministry is a very challenging task. Perhaps you won’t lead marches through the streets as I saw in South Sudan—though it’s something to consider. But what Palm Sunday reminds us is that the demonstrative aspect of ministry cannot be minimized. Palm Sunday is also a reminder that Christianity is, at its core, a movement and in a movement people, well, move! What the world needs now is Christians who are ready, willing, and engaged to march—literally or metaphorically—together in witness to God’s peace, righteousness, and mercy.  

So as you prepare to step out from this place and into Palm Sunday and beyond, make sure you bring your marching shoes with you.  

Faithfully yours, 

Jesse Zink
Principal