Long Live the King!

I don't normally blog on Sunday, but today's experience cried out to be noted. Right on our corner, at Lake and Michigan, stood a Jewish family, women and girls in long skirts, one boy about thirteen in Hassidic suit and hat, with thin tassels hanging below his suit coat. Behind them was a folding table on which were some plain white boxes and piles of flyers. A little girl held the box out as she asked passers by if they were Jewish, but the flyers went to everyone. Three cars lined up on Lake Street, with yellow flags on their antennae. The flags featured a crown and some Hebrew letters. On the car hood or door was a poster of a Hassidic man and the words, "Long Live the King!"
I couldn't help but marvel. For all I know, the Hebrew pronunciation for that "Long Live" may very well be the selfsame "Hosanna!" we sang today, Palm Sunday, to the Son of King David, Jesus. And here were these missionary Jews, spreading the message of their beloved holy leader and (I presume) encouraging their fellow Jews to observe this week's Passover. (I love it when Passover coincides so perfectly with our liturgy!)
It made me wonder how many Christians are out there today, in one way or another, publicly professing their confidence in Jesus and encouraging the lukewarm to celebrate the Paschal Mystery.