Welcoming the King of Peace

Palm Sunday
Today’s Readings: [Click here]

Today the Church celebrates Palm Sunday. Our Lord makes his triumphant entry—his last—into Jerusalem. But it’s a bittersweet day, too. Today is also known by another title—Passion Sunday—because it begins Holy Week: the time when Christ winds up his earthly ministry… faces his passion and death… and prepares for his eternal and heavenly reign.

Clearly, Jesus was at a crossroads. Some might say he was getting ready to meet his fate or destiny. Others would say he’s forging ahead to make a divine appointment. At this crossroads, the Lord made the choice to courageously go forward to his death on the cross.

In the preceding chapter of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus predicted exactly what was going to happen. On the way to Jerusalem, he pulled his disciples aside and said: We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life! (Mt 20:18-19).

With our 20/20 hindsight, we know precisely what Jesus meant. But at the time, the disciples and the cheering crowds had absolutely no idea of what was to come. They did not grasp that this was the very reason why Jesus was born… why he knew and accepted his divine fate. They did not know that Jesus was about to forever change the world.

And what a point Christ made with his entry into Jerusalem! He made it clear that he came for peace. He rejected violence and force. All the details of this gospel story highlight the fact that Jesus is a new kind of ruler, reigning in love and peace.

To begin with, Jesus came meekly, on a lowly animal that was a symbol of gentleness, even though the Scriptures said he was a king. The prophet Zechariah wrote: See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey (Zech 9:9). Jesus relied on the anonymous assistance of friends. Some nameless follower provided the ordinary animals for his transportation.

And then, simple people accompanied him. He was escorted by children and common folk, armed with palm branches rather than spears, singing songs of praise rather than war chants. Isn’t it ironic? Here we are in the midst of another presidential election year. Can you imagine if this was what we saw from our political candidates?

Despite Jesus’ intention to show what kind of ruler he was, some of his followers tried to give a different impression. Maybe these ancient “spin doctors” were trying to force him into a more political role. By spreading their garments on the road in front of him, they echoed the actions of Jehu, a great and powerful king of Israel who ruled by armed might (2 Kgs 9:13). But regardless of the attempts to force Jesus into another kind of power, it didn’t happen. It is the image of Jesus as the serene, loving, peaceful ruler of our hearts that comes down to us through the ages. And this is the model that our Church presents to us to edify us, empower us, embolden us, inspire us.

I’ll admit it: sometimes, I look for a Savior who will come with sword and fury, punishing those who are especially vexing me at the moment. Sometimes I look for Jesus to come and force those who oppress me or the people I love to mend their ways and do as God wills… or at least do what I want to be God’s will.

But then I remember. Then I picture this tranquil image of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, sitting silently and stoically on a donkey, serenaded by the songs of children. Hosanna! Hosanna!

As we accompany Jesus Christ into Jerusalem and then through the final and agonizing hours of his earthly life, how I pray that the Holy Spirit will enlighten us so we may truly see just what kind of Savior God has blessed us with.