When I think of a hero, I imagine a figure like Superman, who is brave and dynamic and has special powers that ordinary human beings do not possess. He can fly; he has x-ray vision and can bend steel due to his great strength. However, heroes also have weaknesses that could be described as a reaction or vulnerability to something like an allergy. Or they may have a character flaw that prevents them from being their best. For Superman, his weakness was the fictional mineral “kryptonite”, which caused weakness and pain for him so that he could not perform his heroic and lifesaving duties.
The concept of the hero has been around for centuries. In the biblical times, a hero was generally a victorious figure like King David, who vanquished the evil giant Goliath with a sling shot and then went on to win wars. However, before David became king, he was a young shepherd who defended his flocks against roaming lions and bears who were also stronger than him. There is an account in the scriptures from 1 Samuel 17:34-37 where David asserts his qualifications to go up against Goliath. So, he did have some experience in being responsible for his family and his flock, and was permitted to fight. He was preparing for his best-known heroic victory.
As Christians approach the Easter holiday, they will be celebrating Palm Sunday. Churches around the world will celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. This public procession was the first time that Jesus declared his role as the spiritual leader of the Jewish people in their occupied country. Before this, he had been preaching to the crowds, teaching in the synagogues, and healing the sick. He was appealing to the masses in a way that the religious establishment could not. Because the religious establishment collaborated with the oppressive Roman government that was occupying their country, many of the crowds became cynical about their church and their government. They were looking for a hero. And here he was, riding on a colt to an enthusiastic crowd that had gathered in anticipation of the holy day of Passover, and to welcome him to town. They expressed their joy by waving palm fronds and shouting “Hosanna.”
This word originated in the Hebrew scriptures and meant, “save us or deliver us.” Hosanna was a plea for help. As time went on, the word from Greek translations of the scriptures meant praise, adoration or hope in Christ. The scripture from the gospel of John captures the excitement of the crowd, “13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!” (John 12:13)
So, the people of the first century were wanting to be liberated from their Roman oppressor and turned to Jesus as their hope. However, they wanted military and political deliverance, not just spiritual deliverance, which doesn’t always produce visible results. The crowds were happy to see someone they felt was their hero vanquish the Roman Empire that put them down for so long. Unfortunately, Jesus’ non-violent approach to his activism was disappointing to the crowds and they turned against him within a week, leading to his crucifixion. Sometimes, expectations that are not clarified or expressed can change a hero into a martyr or give the perception of a villain. A true hero does not succumb to the external pressure of the crowds, who can be fickle and opportunistic. Jesus focused on his faithfulness to his Father and on his sacrifice to save the world through his death.
Writer and professor, Joseph Campbell, once said, “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something greater than oneself.” Heroes are remembered for staying true to their values, mission, or beliefs until the very end, no matter what the cost. There is an interesting article in Time Magazine which explores how the concept of heroism has changed throughout the ages. The article reminds us of the trends that have occurred in religion, literature, and politics. It cautions us against misplacing our trust in unscrupulous people, which amounts to succumbing to demagoguery, or worse, idolatry.
Throughout the ages, we have come to expand our idea of what makes a hero. For one thing, this role is no longer exclusively ascribed to men. The National Organization of Women have a succinct yet thorough “History of Marches and Mass Actions” on their website. There are many women of note who have done great things, like advocating for the rights of the downtrodden and vulnerable and creating movements. Heroes of all stripes have drawn from their ideals and greatest strengths to help others overcome all the ills that beset us as a society and a nation.
There are many unsung heroes among us who faithfully go to work, provide for their families, and raise their children, people who deserve the same recognition for their discipline and reliability as someone who performs one grand gesture. During the time of COVID, medical professionals were described as heroes, but there were also hourly wage-earning souls who had to prepare and deliver food, clean homes and businesses, and care for the elderly and children, but weren’t treated with the same regard because their work was not as glamorous or esteemed as the professionals. Despite their employers designating them as “essential workers,” they did not have the luxury of working from home to protect their families from the contagion. Many of those people died by being faithful to their employers and were equally heroic, even if their efforts were unrecognized.
I believe that many of us have qualities of heroism that inspire, protect and provide for others. We need to look deep within ourselves for the created dignity that each of us has been given by our Creator. My prayer for all of us is that we reexamine the qualities and the actions of heroes in our time. May we cultivate the values of integrity and compassion for ourselves and for others so that we can rise to the occasion when a hero is needed to step up in our part of the world.
