palm sunday

"April 2, 1944, was Palm Sunday. It was a hazy, still day in San Salvador, which had been abandoned by many families seeking fresh breezes on the coast or at summer places outside the capital....Military planes were flying low, barely above their houses."

The struggle of the rural poor Salvadorans, and others of the non-elite class, to overthrow General Martinez, the oppressive president of the country, was advancing violently. Radio stations and telegraph offices had been seized. Rebels were already drinking to a victory they had not yet won.

But the powerful and oppressive government used their shear strength to prevail. The violent uprising was only a tiny obstacle for the regime. Martinez was capable of defeating anyone militarily.

So Salvadoran university students had to come up with a better plan of action, a force more powerful than violent rebellion. They stopped going to class and ceased reporting to work. They convinced shop owners to close down and gathered funds to support those on strike. There were no guns, and this movement is the one which removed Martinez from power.

Just as Jesus rode in on a humble donkey, prepared to suffer, the oppressed of El Salvador also refused to take up arms, repeating the legacy of the King who ruled by his affliction. By using weapons not of this world, they conquered evil. Fully equipped with palm branches and the most humble of war horses.