Palm Sunday – C

We begin our reflection by recalling Luke 19:28-40, where Jesus makes His way towards Jerusalem. He approaches the Mount of Olives and sends two disciples to fetch a colt, one that has never been ridden. One already gets the sense that our Lord is “up to something.” Indeed, he is fulfilling the prophecy found in Zechariah 9:9: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey.”

As Jesus rides into Jerusalem, He fulfills the prophecy and demonstrates a poignant contrast: a king entering with humility and peace rather than a display of military might. The crowds greet Him with shouts of joy, proclaiming, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.” They recognize Him as the awaited Messiah, yet their understanding is limited, mistaking His kingdom for an earthly one.

When the Pharisees demand that Jesus silence His followers, He responds with a profound declaration, emphasizing creation's very voice—“If they keep silent, the stones will cry out.” This illustrates that the King who humbly rides on a donkey, needs no display of greatness since all things, including creation itself, is his dominion. The honours one would heap on an earthly king would here seem futile and meaningless. The greatest honour Jesus could receive at that moment, was that of faith. The shouts of joy at the coming of the “Son of David” and the “Messiah” was all he delighted in. This is a people who are receiving the saving grace the Father has sent to them in his Son.

The next day, on Monday of Holy Week, a pivotal event unfolds—the Cleansing of the Temple. Jesus enters the Temple in Luke 19:45-48 and finds it filled with merchants and money changers. Filled with righteous anger, He drives them out, declaring, “My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers.” The condition of the Temple reflects a broader spiritual malaise among the leaders and people of Jerusalem; it had become a place of exploitation rather than worship, disconnected from its purpose as a sanctuary for prayer.

In this cleansing, we see Jesus actively restoring the sanctity of worship and challenging the corrupt practices of the religious elite. His actions are prophetic and serve to fulfill the role of the suffering servant, akin to Isaiah’s words in Isaiah 50:4-7, where the servant speaks wisdom and endures suffering. Jesus embodies this servant, preparing to face further rejection, torture, and ultimately, His passion. Wherever we see corruption in our lives, this is a reminder that Christ and Christ alone can be the force through which we cleanse that decay from our lives.

Throughout this week, we are invited to reflect on how these events mirror the prophecies and symbols found in the Old Testament. Psalm 22, which we prayed today, reflects the anguish of suffering, echoing the abandonment that Jesus experienced. The line, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” resonates deeply during his crucifixion and is a reminder of how Jesus bore our burdens.

Moreover, Paul’s powerful words in Philippians 2:6-11 highlight Jesus’ humility and obedience, culminating in His sacrificial death. He becomes our model of servanthood, a King who, instead of being exalted on a throne, is raised upon the cross for our salvation.

As we continue through Holy Week, let us allow these mysteries to illuminate our own lives and where we currently stand in our relationship with God and our fellow brothers and sisters. The events of Palm Sunday call us to reflect on our understanding of Jesus as both King and the humble, loving Son of the Father who is willing to lay down his life for all of us. His call to humility challenges us amidst a world obsessed with personal ambition and gain. Spending ourselves for others is highly unpopular, given that without faith it makes no sense. With faith, service becomes the gift we give, so as to eternally unite ourselves to Christ.

Let us prepare our hearts for the days to come while also embracing the humility demonstrated in Jesus’ journey toward the cross. As we wave our palms today, let them not only be a symbol of triumph but also a testament to our willingness to walk with Christ through suffering and to always praise Him, led by our Blessed Mother Mary who reminds us always that He alone is the Savior of the world.

Amen.