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by A/Prof. Philip Kariatlis, Sub-Dean
On the day of Palm Sunday, the Church celebrates the triumphal entry of our Lord into the city of Jerusalem seated on a colt of a donkey before his impending Passion, death and resurrection. As indicated by the assigned Gospel reading for the day (Jn 12:1-18), it is a festal event which Jesus himself instigated both in fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecy of Zechariah—“Do not be afraid, daughter of Sion: look your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt” (Zech 9:9)—but also so as to offer himself freely as the Passover lamb, as “a ransom for all” (1Tim 2:6).
It is a day for celebration after the end of Holy and Great Lent, and immediately before all the harrowing events that Jesus will come to suffer during Holy Week, in order to culminate once again, on the following Sunday, with the joy of Christ’s resurrection and the unfathomable gift of eternal life to all the world.
Specifically, the entrance of our Lord into the holy city of Jerusalem on a young donkey—where He will met by throngs of people with great enthusiasm and excitement, laying branches of palm trees on the road and recognised as king—pays tribute to the fact that Christ’s kingship is now no longer a future reality but is in actuality within our midst.
With the unveiling of Christ’s kingdom in the world—as evidenced in his royal and solemn entrance into Jerusalem—the Church will invite us not only to acknowledge the sovereignty of Christ, but also to allow the presence of his kingdom to reign deep within our hearts in our witness of love to those around us, so as to be raised with him on the glorious day of his resurrection.
Let us remember that Christ’s kingdom is one of peace to the nations, forbearance and universal forgiveness. Indeed, the power of Christ’s kingdom was—and continues to be—a kingdom of sacrificial Love, a kingdom of Truth and Eternity. As king, Christ will especially seek out the oppressed and the poor in order to help them; his kingdom will especially stand up for the vulnerable and the oppressed; ultimately his kingdom will be characterised by peace and love; a kingdom which will drive out conflict and hatred. Indeed, Christ’s throne will be that of the Cross!
Let us follow the genuine example of Christ, and not the one imagined by the people of today’s Gospel reading—indeed, let us remain focused, and I would even add, ‘fixated’ upon Him and Him alone, especially as we will encounter Him throughout this Holy and Great Week, namely, Christ the Bridegroom. Christ is ‘bridegroom’—and let us remember that the imagery of bridegroom signifies magnificence, resplendence and glory—and Christ is indeed the bridegroom when He is on the Cross!
It is a day for celebration after the end of Holy and Great Lent, and immediately before all the harrowing events that Jesus will come to suffer during Holy Week, in order to culminate once again, on the following Sunday, with the joy of Christ’s resurrection and the unfathomable gift of eternal life to all the world.
Specifically, the entrance of our Lord into the holy city of Jerusalem on a young donkey—where He will met by throngs of people with great enthusiasm and excitement, laying branches of palm trees on the road and recognised as king—pays tribute to the fact that Christ’s kingship is now no longer a future reality but is in actuality within our midst.
With the unveiling of Christ’s kingdom in the world—as evidenced in his royal and solemn entrance into Jerusalem—the Church will invite us not only to acknowledge the sovereignty of Christ, but also to allow the presence of his kingdom to reign deep within our hearts in our witness of love to those around us, so as to be raised with him on the glorious day of his resurrection.
Let us remember that Christ’s kingdom is one of peace to the nations, forbearance and universal forgiveness. Indeed, the power of Christ’s kingdom was—and continues to be—a kingdom of sacrificial Love, a kingdom of Truth and Eternity. As king, Christ will especially seek out the oppressed and the poor in order to help them; his kingdom will especially stand up for the vulnerable and the oppressed; ultimately his kingdom will be characterised by peace and love; a kingdom which will drive out conflict and hatred. Indeed, Christ’s throne will be that of the Cross!
Let us follow the genuine example of Christ, and not the one imagined by the people of today’s Gospel reading—indeed, let us remain focused, and I would even add, ‘fixated’ upon Him and Him alone, especially as we will encounter Him throughout this Holy and Great Week, namely, Christ the Bridegroom. Christ is ‘bridegroom’—and let us remember that the imagery of bridegroom signifies magnificence, resplendence and glory—and Christ is indeed the bridegroom when He is on the Cross!
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