PALM SUNDAY - Mark 11:1-10
Every year, crowds of people coming from everywhere went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. Jesus would never miss that celebration and he went to Jerusalem with his disciples. As they approached the holy city, the crowds recognised him and shouted with exultation, proclaiming him the Messiah King who inherited the kingdom from David: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming!” They saw in Jesus the One who had been promised by all the prophets who would fulfil all their hopes, bringing freedom, restoring the kingdom of Israel and establishing the Kingdom of God on earth. And they cried out to him so that he pays attention to their oppression and comes to their rescue. Hosanna! was a cry of deliverance: Please, deliver us. Delivers us from exploitation, from oppression and from slavery. Set us free. Please, deliver us. Later, it would be understood as a cry of praise, losing the original Hebraic meaning. Hosanna is a cry that affirms the messianic role of Jesus. It was a cry with political overtones that were easily understood by the religious leaders of Jerusalem. It is not surprising that they got alarmed and that they decided to stop such an adventure. They were afraid of a possible revolt that would lead to the intervention of the Roman army and to the destruction of the people of Israel.
However, Jesus had no political claims. He did not enter Jerusalem on horseback like a dominating and conquering king at the head of his armies; instead, he entered seated on a humble colt, surrounded by the poor and the needy, the common people, who hoped for better days. Like them and with them, we cry Hosanna! Deliver us, Lord. Come and save us. Please, set us free.
Jesus’ path towards deliverance and salvation is completely different from what the Jews and the Gentiles expected. Rejecting power and dominion, he walked on the path that led him to the cross, carrying on his shoulders the weight of our sin and our rebellion.
In the first reading, Jesus is presented as the Servant of the Lord who remained faithful up to the end. In the second reading, we are given the hymn of the letter to the Philippians, which describe the mystery of Jesus Christ in two movements: abasement and exaltation. He humbled himself, being obedient and faithful and God exalted him and established him in glory. In the Gospel, we read the passion according to Mark. As we read it, let us put ourselves in the different scenes and pay attention to our inner reactions. Are we very different from the different personages appearing during the narrative? Are we like Peter or like Judas? Are we like Herodes or like Pilate? Would we stand up near the cross like Mary? What would be our role?
During this Holy Week, let us be close to Jesus and accompany him on his way to the Calvary.
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