Palm Sunday

It is Palm Sunday. It was our Lord’s last week when he entered Jerusalem. They call it “the triumphant entry”. In the eyes of the world, the way to bring the King to the city would be different. Probably, luxurious cars led by a grand band, guarded by police cars would be how the world would visualize a King entering a city triumphantly.

But, our Lord chose to ride into the city on a jackass, on a donkey!

Our Lord probably would have referred to it as a Day of Sorrows. It was the day that he went into the temple for the second time in his ministry to clean out the money-changers in his Father’s house. It was the day that he went up the Mount of Olives. He looked over the city. His heart broke in yearning over the wretched city. And he cried out those unforgettable words, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you would not!” (Luke 13:34)

One week later, he was nailed to a cross outside that very city’s gates where the multitude greeted him with “Hossana in the Highest”.

Were the multitude the ones who now cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!”?

This is a very propitious time for us to consider the cross -

Near the cross, O Lamb of God,
bring its scenes before me.
Help me walk from day to day,
with its shadows o’er me.