Watermark Small

Entry of Christ into Jerusalem (1320), by Pietro Lorenzetti. Entering the city on a donkey symbolizes arrival in peace rather than as a war-waging king arriving on a horse.

Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion,/ shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem!/ See, your king shall come to you;/ a just savior is he,/ Meek, and riding on an ass,/ on a colt, the foal of an ass.”

Zechariah 9:9

The king of kings: the lord, the giver of life

Reflection by Reason2bCatholic

Palm Sunday is an event which marks the prophetic return of the Messiah; the One who would return to gather the twelve tribes of Israel; the One who would gather his people and be their king.

This entrance into Jerusalem is Jesus, King of Israel, King of Kings, entering into our lives, and is as real today as it was that Sunday, riding on a colt.  Once again, faced with the prophecy foretold, we are invited to consider, “Who, or what, is the Lord of my life?”

In our human frailty, by virtue of our human nature, we may often be consumed by our own ego.  We may be consumed by our passions and preoccupations.  We may be consumed by the events and news of the day.  Each can lord over our thoughts and govern our days.

Make no mistake: we are all governed by something or someone.

Yet, Jesus is the fulfillment of all our desires.  He is the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecy.  To understand this, is to understand what must take center stage in our own lives.  Better said, Jesus arrives this day – this Palm Sunday, and each day – to be the Giver of Life.  It is in giving our life to him that we receive, that we find true fulfillment, that we find our truest freedom: no longer slave to our ego, preoccupations, or human events.

When we empty ourselves fully, totally, completely – like Jesus emptied himself on the Cross – we are filled with his majesty because He has come to give us life, and give it abundantly (cf. Jn 10:10) – thanks be to God!

On Easter Sunday we will celebrate the risen Jesus – down from the cross – and we, like the disciples on the first day of the week, are also witnesses to the empty tomb.  His road to Calvary begins today, however, this Palm Sunday; and ends as our crucified Lord, emptying himself in self-giving love for the sake of taking on our sins and inviting us to Him that he may give us his life in the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

For a beautiful reflection on the biblical significance of Palm Sunday from our friends at Catholic Imagery, please enjoy below.

Peace be with you!

Disciple of Christ | Son of the Church

“Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” (Mk 11:1-11).

the biblical Significance of Palm Sunday

The #biblical story of #PalmSunday is recorded in all four of the #Gospels (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:28-38; and John 12:12-18).  Five days before the #Passover, #Jesus came from Bethany to #Jerusalem.  Having sent two of His disciples to bring Him a colt of a donkey, Jesus sat upon it and entered the city.  People had gathered in Jerusalem for the Passover and were looking for Jesus, both because of His great works and teaching and because they had heard of the miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus.
When they heard that #Christ was entering the city, they went out to meet Him with palm branches, laying their garments on the ground before Him, and shouting, “Hosanna! #Blessed is he that comes in the Name of the Lord, the King of #Israel!”  At the outset of His public ministry Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God and announced that the powers of the age to come were already active in the present age (Luke 7:18-22).  His words and mighty works were performed “to produce repentance as the response to His call, a call to an inward change of mind and heart which would result in concrete changes in one’s life, a call to follow Him and accept His messianic destiny.
The triumphant entry of #JesusChrist into Jerusalem is a messianic event, through which His divine authority was declared.  Palm #Sunday summons us to behold our king: the Word of God made flesh.  We are called to behold Him not simply as the One who came to us once riding on a colt, but as the One who is always present in His #Church, coming ceaselessly to us in power and glory at every #Eucharist, in every #prayer and #sacrament, and in every act of #love, kindness and mercy.  He comes to free us from all our fears and insecurities, “to take solemn possession of our #soul, and to be enthroned in our heart,” as someone has said. He comes not only to deliver us from our deaths by His death and #Resurrection, but also to make us capable of attaining the most perfect fellowship or union with Him.  He is the King, who liberates us from the darkness of sin and the bondage of death.
Palm Sunday summons us to behold our King: the vanquisher of death and the giver of life.
Credit: reproduced without edit from our friends at Catholic Imagery, https://www.facebook.com/CatholicImagery/.

Information herein posted under the "rules of fair use" to foster education and discussion in accordance with Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976.

‘My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?’ (Ps 22)‘ ….

Today Jesus triumphantly returns to Jerusalem, entering from the East. Five days later he will hear the cries of those who greeted him at the city’s gated entrance with the words, ‘Crucify him!’

In the twenty-second Psalm we hear a Psalm of David, what we may believe to be a Psalm of lament. These are the words Jesus says from the Cross on Mount Calvary (Mt 27:46).  Yet, it is a psalm of deliverance, a psalm of praise. For Jesus knows he has given Himself up freely to the crowds, to His Roman executioners. He has given Himself up freely, taking on the sins of the world. He humbles Himself, and from the Cross looks down on our humanity with Divine Mercy, and sings a song of praise in Psalm 22, which reads:

‘I will proclaim your name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise you: You who fear the LORD, praise him; all you descendants of Jacob, give glory to him; revere him, all you descendants of Israel.’

Today marks the beginning of the Lord’s Passion. He returns humbly on a colt. He knows he is entering the lions den. He will willingly give Himself up to His Father, for he knows he will not be abandoned; he knows he will be exalted and reign as King on the throne of the God Most High.”

Author, Reason2bCatholic

O Lord, we are so easily deceived still into expecting from you a kingdom governed according to the laws of this world. Keep our eyes fixed on the triumph of life over death through the mystery of the cross, so that we may grow into a deeper understanding of the power of your law of love over the laws of human expectation, through Christ our Lord.

Amen.”

Palm Sunday prayer, Magnificat Magazine, March 28, 20221
St Peter C. 1611; Oil on canvas, by Peter Paul Rubens (1577 – 1640). Rubens made a series of portraits of the apostles, in commission of the duke of Lerma. Peter was depicted holding a pair of keys, his common symbol: the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. Rubens was born in Siegen in Germany, but from the age of 10 he lived and went to school in Antwerp, Belgium, where he became an important Flemish Artist.

Saint Peter, upon this rock (Mt 16:18), pray for us.

Be not afraid!  And may the peace of Christ be with you and your loved ones today and always.  Holy Family, pray for us.  Amen.

The Holy Family, Murillo
The Heavenly and Earthly Trinities (c. 1675-82) by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617 – 1682)

Email Signature Logo

One thought on “Articles of Faith | The Biblical Significance of Palm Sunday (Reflection)”

  1. Pingback: Jesus at the Passover meal speaking about two covenants | Bijbelvorser = Bible Researcher

We welcome your comments.