The beginning of HIS passion

On Palm Sunday, Jesus triumphantly enters Jerusalem as King and the Church, while singing and waving palm branches, upon the Paschal Mystery.

As Jesus enters the City of Destiny, His ministry in Galilee ends, His long journey that started from Galilee ends (Luke 9 – 19) and His lengthy ministry in Jerusalem, culminating on the Cross and in the Tomb, begins.

How does Jesus enter the City? He rides a colt. He rides on a colt ‘on which no one has ever sat’, just as He would be laid in a tomb ‘in which no one had yet been buried’ (23,53).

This action of Jesus is in stark contrast to the Kings of Judah who rode in chariots and on horses to enter through the gates of the City (Jeremiah 17,25; 22,4).

Why does Jesus not choose a horse? Why does He choose a colt? Colt is a symbol of peace, as opposed to the war-horse. Historically a prince coming to a city in peace would portray this fact symbolically by riding an ass and not a war-horse. Jesus is not a conquering warrior leader.

Hence He does not come like a conquering warrior to Jerusalem. But He comes in lowliness, humility and peace.

Jesus is not the first to travel on a colt. The princes of old rode on asses: Judah (Genesis 49,11); leaders of Israel (Judges 5,10); sons of Jair, one of the judges of Israel (Judges 10,4); the sons and grandsons of Abdon, another judge of Israel (Judges 12,14). The saddled asses were a sign of their rank and wealth.

Now Jesus rides on a colt. Does it show any rank or wealth of Jesus? The colt does not belong to Him but to “its owners” (v. 33). Here, He performs another prophetic symbolic action – like writing on the ground, dining with sinners and foot washing. He does it in utter humility and peace.

The divine prophecy had this, “Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion, shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! See, your king shall come to you; a just saviour is he, Meek, and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass” (Zechariah 9,9). Now Jesus rides on a colt. The prophecy is literally fulfilled. Jesus is the King and Saviour so meek and just!

Significance of Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is the start of Holy Week, which is the week before Easter, commemorating events in the last days of Jesus Christ. According to Christian belief, Jesus rode into Jerusalem where people gave him a hero’s welcome during the Jewish Passover celebration.

The Donkey

by G. K. Chesterton

When fishes flew and forests walked
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
Then surely I was born.

With monstrous head and sickening cry
And ears like errant wings,
The devil’s walking parody
On all four-footed things.

The tattered outlaw of the earth,
Of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,
I keep my secret still.

Fools! For I also had my hour;
One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout about my ears,
And palms before my feet.

How is Jesus welcomed into Jerusalem? As the victorious king and his people, who triumphed over hostile nations with the refuge of the Lord, entered the Temple in a victory procession to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice, the priests blessed them at the Temple gates with “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.

We bless you from the LORD’s house. The LORD is God and has given us light. Join in procession with leafy branches up to the horns of the altar” (Psalm 118,26-27).

Now the multitude of His disciples, who recognised the significance of Jesus’ gesture of riding a colt, give Him regal honours and imparts blessing to Him, the King of all kings who is determined to triumph over sin and death, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.”

This cry of the disciples will move us back and forth in the Gospel. It reminds us of what angels sang at the Birth of Jesus (in the beginning of the Gospel): “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests” (2,14). This cry will reach the house of Pilate (in the end of the Gospel) as the members of the Sanhedrin charge against Jesus, “We found this man misleading our people … and maintains that he is the Messiah, a king” (23,2).

Prophecies and Psalms begin to see the light of day, as Jesus rides on a colt. The colt has this to say, in humble jubilation:

Let us, kings by Baptism, take the path of Jesus – the way of lowliness, humility and peace in this world of pomp and glory, war and violence.

The beginning of HIS passion

Fr. Don Anton Saman Hettiarachchi