Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem and Holy Week
Philippians 4:4-9; John 12:1-18
Today’s epistle reading focuses on joy—a joy that flows from virtue and charity. In contrast, selfishness is the root of sadness. Interestingly, St. Cyprian teaches that joy reaches its fullness when we embrace cross. Christians exercise their greatest faith and virtue not when times are easy, but by enduring suffering and persecution for love of God when it is difficult. Part of this pure joy, as St. Paul reminds us, comes from the nearness of Our Lord in times of trouble. When we trust in Him and turn to Him in prayer, He listens, responds, and gives us the grace we need to overcome difficulties. For example, singing the prayers of the Church gives us peace and regulates our emotions. We pray in the Psalms: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit!”
In today’s Gospel, it is remarkable to observe how each of the followers of Christ interact with Christ on what we now call Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday. Christ knew what was about to take place; He knew He was going up to Jerusalem to be put to death, but not all his disciples had accepted this yet. Many of his followers thought he was going up to Jerusalem to take the throne and rule as King of the Jews including this crowd that gathered around Christ at Bethany to see Lazarus whom Jesus had risen from the dead. For many, this was proof enough that Jesus was the Messiah who was going to lead them to victory over their political enemies in Jerusalem. Jesus was going to defeat His enemies, but Jesus’ true enemies are unseen. Jesus is not a political Messiah. His kingdom of heaven is much greater than any earthly kingdom could ever be.
Mary, the sister of Lazarus, probably came closest to understanding Our Lord’s words and purpose. She anointed His feet with a pound of pure and precious fragrant oil that she had purchased for His burial.
On the other hand, Judas is no longer listening to Jesus. John shows us in his gospel that Judas was already lost because of his sins; Judas is a thief. It is noteworthy that Christ tolerated Judas and did not cast him out earlier, even though he knew that Judas’s heart was no longer with him. Augustine says that Jesus teaches us in this that we have a duty to tolerate the wicked so as not to divide the Body of Christ based on the principle of showing mercy to sinners knowing that we too are sinners and that we will be shown mercy by God in proportion to the mercy we show to others. God’s Justice will prevail in the end. Our duty is to show mercy to the baptized and pray for their salvation. But we should also not be surprised when unrepentant sinners betray the Church and cause suffering within it, like Judas did. It is part of God’s plan to let the wheat grow up with the chaff.
The next day, Jesus did not raise an army and conquer Jerusalem; He rode up the mountain of the Lord as a lamb is led to the slaughter, riding humbly on the back of a donkey. This was to fulfill the scripture passage from Zechariah which prophesied, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Behold your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt the foal of a donkey.”
St Caesarius says that the donkey symbolizes the Church upon which the Son of God will sit when he brings her into the Heavenly Jerusalem. Let us, therefore, rejoice with Christ today for he is entering his passion, he is going up to Jerusalem to conquer death by death! He is going to rise from the dead to begin a new creation through the Sacramental order of the Church. We are entering the holiest week of the year, let us be glad and rejoice because the Mysteries of our salvation are at hand.
I encourage you to participate in this week’s services on Holy Thursday and Good Friday; take time off from work. Holy Week is the greatest drama, the greatest celebration of life, death, redemption, and victory that the world has ever known. The Pharisees despaired in seeing that the whole world was following Jesus; but we should rejoice and be glad in it. The Lord reigns! He is not the mere King of the Jews; He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and His Kingdom will last forever. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the Highest!