The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem - Palm Sunday
Today, the Sunday before Holy Pascha, we celebrate the joyous and Great Feast of the Entry of our Lord into Jerusalem, also known as Palm Sunday. This event is recorded in all four Gospels. Since Christ had raised Lazarus from the dead, many Jews who beheld this miracle came to believe in Him. Yet the chief priests and Pharisees, hardened in their hearts, gathered a council and plotted to put him to death.
At this time, many people gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover, and were eager to meet Christ; both because of His great works and teaching, and because they had heard of the resurrection of Lazarus. Five days before the Passover, Christ sent His disciples to fetch a colt (the foal of a donkey). Riding upon it, He who has Heaven for His throne entered the Holy City of Jerusalem. In this most humble manner, Christ fulfilled the prophecy:
“Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9).
The multitudes of people went out to meet Him with palm branches - which had long been used in the ancient world as a symbol of victory, for it was customary for the victors of athletic contests and wars to be honored with palms. The children of the Hebrews spread their garments before Him, and, cutting down branches, they laid them along the way and carried them in their hands. The people cried out as they went before Him:
“Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel!”.
In Luke’s account, the Pharisees in the crowd told Christ to rebuke His disciples for publicly proclaiming Him to be the Messianic King. But Christ responded to them:
“I tell you that if they should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out” (Luke 19:40), revealing that even creation itself would bear witness and cry out praises to its Creator. Just as the people welcomed Christ into Jerusalem, we too must welcome our Lord and King into our hearts. As we commence Holy Week, we are reminded that the fleeting moments of joy that marked His triumphal entry soon give way to solemnity, for the world received and welcomed its King on His way to His Passion.
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