Palm Sunday

Early in the morning of this day, Jesus sets out for Jerusalem, leaving His Mother, and the two sisters Martha and Mary, and Lazarus, at Bethania. The Mother of Sorrows trembles at seeing her Son thus expose Himself to danger, for His enemies are bent upon His destruction, but it is not death, it is triumph, that Jesus is to receive today in Jerusalem.

The Messias, before being nailed to the cross, is to be proclaimed King by the people of the great city. The little children are to make her streets echo with their Hosannas to the Son of David, and this in the presence of the soldiers of Rome’s emperor, and of the high priests and pharisees: the first standing under the banner of their eagles; the second, dumb with rage.

The disciples spread their garments upon the colt and Our Saviour, that the prophetic figure might be fulfilled, sits upon him, and advances toward Jerusalem. As soon as it is known that Jesus is near the city, the Holy Ghost works in the hearts of those Jews who have come from all parts to celebrate the feast of the Passover. They go out to meet our Lord, holding palm branches in their hands, and loudly proclaiming Him to be King. They that have accompanied Jesus from Bethania, join the enthusiastic crowd. Whilst some spread their garments on the way, others cut down boughs from the palm trees, and strew them along the road. Hosanna is the triumphant cry, proclaiming to the whole city that Jesus, the Son of David, has made His entrance as her King . Thus did God, in His power over men’s hearts, procure a triumph for His Son, and in the very city which, a few days alter, was to clamour for His Blood.

This day was one of glory to our Jesus, and the holy Church would have us renew, each year, the memory of this triumph of the Son of God. Shortly after the birth of our Emmanuel, we saw the Magi coming from the extreme east, and looking in Jerusalem for the King of the Jews, to Whom they intended offering their gifts and their adorations. But it is Jerusalem herself that now goes forth to meet this King. Each of these events is an acknowledgment of the Kingship of Jesus: the first from the Gentiles; the second, from the Jews. Both were to pay Him this regal homage before He suffered His passion.

The inscription to be put on the cross, by Pilate’s order, will express the kingly character of the Crucified: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. Pilate, the Roman governor, the pagan, the base coward, has been unwittingly the fulfiller of a prophecy, and when the enemies of Jesus insist on the inscription being altered, Pilate will not deign to give them any answer, but this: “What I have written, I have written.” Today, it is the Jews themselves that proclaim Jesus to be their King. They will soon be dispersed, in punishment for their revolt against the Son of David, but Jesus is King, and will be so for ever.

Thus were literally verified the words spoken by the Archangel to Mary, when he announced to her the glories of the Child that was to be born of her. Jesus begins His reign upon the earth this very day, and though the first Israel is soon to disclaim His rule, a new Israel, formed from the faithful few of the old, shall rise up in every nation of the earth, and become the kingdom of Christ, a kingdom such as no mere earthly monarch ever coveted in his wildest fancies of ambition.

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