Palm Sunday (A)

Fr. Antoni CAROL i Hostench(Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, we are invited to contemplate the style of the kingship of Christ the Savior. Jesus is King, and at the end of the liturgical year we will celebrate Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Yes, He is King, but His kingdom is the “Kingdom of truth and life, the Kingdom of holiness and grace, the Kingdom of justice, love and peace” (Preface of the Solemnity of Christ the King). A surprising kingship! With our worldly mindset, we are not accustomed to this.

A good, gentle King who looks after the well-being of souls: “My kingdom does not belong to this world” (Jn 18:36). He allows things to happen. In a tone of contempt and mockery, “‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say so’” (Mt 27:11). More mockery still as Jesus is compared to Barabbas, and the people are urged to choose the release of one or the other: “Which one do you want me to release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus called Messiah?” (Mt 27:17). And … they prefer Barabbas! (cf. Mt 27:21). Meanwhile, Jesus remains silent and offers Himself as a holocaust for us, who judge Him!

When He had arrived in Jerusalem shortly before, Jesus was received with enthusiasm and simplicity: “The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest’” (Mt 21:8-9). But now, those same people shout, “‘Let him be crucified!’ But he said, ‘Why? What evil has he done?’ They only shouted the louder, ‘Let him be crucified!’” (Mt 27:22-23). “‘Shall I crucify your King?’ The chief priests answered, ‘We have no king but Caesar’” (Jn 19:15).

This King does not impose Himself, He offers Himself. His kingship is infused with a spirit of service. “He comes without pomp or ostentation. He will not dispute or raise his voice to make it heard in the streets. He will be meek and humble. Let us run to accompany him as he hastens toward his passion, not by covering his path with garments, olive branches or palms, but by doing all we can to prostrate ourselves before him” (Saint Andrew of Crete, bishop).

Thoughts on Today’s Gospel

• “Jesus, the Sinless, was crucified for you; and will you not be crucified for Him who was crucified for you? You are not bestowing a favour, for you have first received; but you are returning a favour, repaying your debt to Him who was crucified for you in Golgotha.” (Saint Cyril of Jerusalem)
• “Just as he entered Jerusalem, so he desires to enter our cities and our lives. As he did in the Gospel, riding on a donkey, so too he comes to us in humility; he comes “in the name of the Lord”.” (Francis)
• “…The ‘King of glory’ enters his City ‘riding on an ass’ (Ps 24:7-10); Jesus conquers the Daughter of Zion [Jerusalem], a figure of his Church, neither by ruse nor by violence, but by the humility that bears witness to the truth. And so the subjects of his kingdom on that day are children and God’s poor, who acclaim him as had the angels when they announced him to the shepherds…” (Catechism Of The Catholic Church, Nº 559)