HOSANNA: SAVE US, WE PRAY

PALM SUNDAY - Mark 11:1-10

When we mention Palm Sunday, what comes to mind is the procession with the crowds carrying the palms in their hands, singing and shouting Hosanna and acclaiming Jesus as the Messiah.

The word hosanna is understood as a cry of praise. In Mark, the crowds shout: “Hosanna in the highest heavens!” (Mk 11:10), while in Luke they say: “Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven” (Lk 19:38), as if the crowds were repeating the song of the angels at the birth of Jesus: 

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” 

(Lk 2:14)

However, the original Hebrew word is a cry for deliverance. Convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, the crowds shouted:  Hosanna, which means: Save, we pray.  Or, please, save us.

Understood in this way, the entrance in Jerusalem was like a political rally, with the crowds welcoming Jesus, convinced that he was going to take action and bring about the liberation of the nation.

It is not surprising that the leaders of the people became very upset. They knew that the Romans would act swiftly and with full force at the slightest sign of a revolt, and they were not ready to defy the Roman rule and the Roman armies.

However, Jesus was not looking for political power and he was not going to overthrow the Romans to establish a Jewish kingdom. He entered the city on a donkey, the companion of the poor in the daily tasks of transport. Jesus was not a threat to anybody and he would say it very clearly to Pilate, when he told him that his kingdom is not of this world (Jn 18:36).

Re-enacting the solemn entrance of Jesus in Jerusalem, we start carrying palms in our hands, full of joy, acclaiming Christ as the King and the Saviour, and then we join the crowds once more to demand the crucifixion of Jesus.

Palm Sunday put us before the crowds and helps us to realise how fickle they are. One day, you are their idol and they make you a hero; the next day, they pull you down and reduce you to dust to be trampled upon. That is the glory of the world, and those who look for it and put all their hope in it, are in for a big disappointment.

Jesus knew the hearts of the people and was well aware of how little they could be trusted. Jesus put all his trust in the Father. This Sunday’s first reading, from the prophet Isaiah, speaks of the Messiah as being given the heart of disciple, who is woken up every morning to hear and to listen like a disciple (Is 5:4). In times of difficulty and danger, he did not run away and he did not cover his face against insult and spittle (Is 5:6):

“I know that I shall not be put to shame” (Is 5:7).