Gospel of the Sunday (Matthew 21:1–9)
At that time Jesus drew near to Jerusalem, and when He had come to Bethphage at Mount Olivet, He sent two of His disciples, saying to them: Go into the village that lies before you, and immediately you will find an ass tied, and a colt with her; loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord has need of them, and immediately he will let them go. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: Tell the daughter of Sion: Behold, thy King cometh to thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of her that is used to the yoke. And the disciples going, did as Jesus commanded them. And they brought the ass and the colt, and laid their garments upon them, and made Him sit thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; and others cut boughs from the trees, and strewed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before and that followed, cried, saying: Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
THE HOLY CHURCH opens today the great week by showing us the Messias entering Jerusalem to accomplish the fulfilment of the sacrifice. The Son of David, whom the multitude greets as King, comes not to ascend an earthly throne, but to embrace the cross. The palms offered to Him are signs of victory; yet the victory He shall gain will be that of suffering. Jerusalem rejoices, and yet her King goes forth to meet death. The children of the Hebrews went forth to meet Him with palms in their hands; they sang His praise and cried Hosanna in the highest. The same city that today receives Him will soon reject Him. The Church, contemplating these two things, mingles her joy with sorrow. She follows her Bridegroom with palms, yet she knows that He goes to Golgotha. She greets Him as King, yet already beholds Him as the Victim. The humility of this entry reveals the character of Christ’s kingdom. No pomp surrounds Him, no signs of earthly power accompany Him. He comes meekly, seated upon an ass, that what was foretold by the prophet might be fulfilled. Thus He shows that His kingdom is not of this world, and that He reigns by love and by sacrifice. (Dom Prosper Guéranger).
Meditation of Thomas à Kempis on Palm Sunday and on the humble entry of Jesus into Jerusalem
I PRAISE and thank Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, Saviour of the world, gracious and merciful Redeemer of mankind, for the manifestation of Thy wonderful humility and the greatness of Thy ineffable goodness, which Thou didst show on this day in meekness, when, with bare feet and seated upon a humble ass, in the midst of a great multitude and under the singing of little children, Thou didst make Thy entry into the holy city of Jerusalem. I praise and glorify Thee, O most loving Jesus, Son of David, for the solemn honour paid to Thee on this day by the people of Israel, when with loud Hosannas they acknowledged Thee and proclaimed Thee the great King and Prophet.
I praise and honour Thee for the wonderful love and tireless tenderness which, meekly and of Thine own free will, led Thee to those who would slay Thee, by whom Thou knewest Thou wouldst soon be put to death; for whose sins and wickedness Thou didst shed abundant tears, when Thou didst foretell the terrible calamities that would soon follow upon their passing joy. I praise and glorify Thee for Thy burning zeal against evildoers. After Thou hadst entered the temple, Thou didst immediately drive out of Thy Father’s house those who bought and sold there, making the house of prayer a den of thieves.
On the one hand how severe Thou wast against the unjust and the covetous, sellers of their own souls, while on the other Thou wast so gentle and merciful toward the poor and the weak, giving to many with love the word of instruction and the help of healing. O ineffable power of Christ, surpassing goodness of the Son of God, who shall declare the mighty deeds of the Lord, or make all His praise heard?
Remember me, O Jesus, in Thy good pleasure, and visit me with Thy salvation. Come, beloved Jesus, and lead me into the holy city Jerusalem, not that Jerusalem which kills the prophets, but the Jerusalem that is built in heaven, where the heavenly citizens dwell in perfect unity. Ride upon the colt of an ass, restraining by the bridle of abstinence all the light and unbridled movements of my flesh.
It is good for me, my Lord, to bear and to be subject to Thy law, never to rise against the commands of obedience, but with patience and meekness to carry the burden laid upon me. Never may I cease from labour and spiritual progress; I must go forward in holy purpose until, with Thy help and guidance, I come to the Jerusalem above, where peace is everlasting.
Therefore with the Hebrew children I devoutly cry to Thee: Hosanna to the Son of David, salvation in the highest. Hail, Lord of the universe; hail, Saviour of the house of Israel, whose coming the prophets foretold from the beginning of the world, whom the Jews, as on this day, received joyfully with loud praises.
I adore Thee, I glorify Thee, who hast come in the name of Thy Father to deliver us from the hand of the enemy and to reconcile us with God the Father by Thy most precious Blood. I beseech Thee also, O Lord Jesus, enter into the temple of my heart and cleanse and drive far from me all that Thou shalt find there defiled and unholy.
Cast out of Thy tabernacle all that is of this world, every seductive attachment to places and persons. Overturn the tables of the money-changers, lest the love of riches gain dominion over me. Take away the cattle and the doves and their noise, lest the abundance of earthly things hinder my desire for heavenly things.
Take the scourge, woven of the small cords of Thy fear, and with powerful zeal drive from me all evil imaginations and unclean suggestions, by which the devil, that most wretched merchant, ever seeks to deceive me, even during prayer in the house of God; lest my soul, tempted by vain illusions, be brought to consent and suddenly perish.
Help me, O most mighty Jesus, and suffer me not to be caught in the snares of the devil and of my own evil heart. Preserve me from evil and strengthen me in all good, that, escaping the dangers of eternal damnation, I may enter with Thee into the everlasting dwellings of the heavenly Jerusalem.