TEXT: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew 21:1-11

Who is this that comes in the Name of Yahweh?  The crowd kept answering - "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee."  Many ask the same question today.  They do not know WHO JESUS IS.

Jesus came into the City of Jerusalem, "riding upon an ass, astride a colt, the foal of a beast of burden."

He did not come on a white horse, riding high and mighty as pictured in the Apocalypse, no, he came lowly and humbly amidst a crowd that surrounded him and led the way with palms in the hands, waving them, casting their clothes and palms beneath the beast of burden, making way for the Way, the Truth and the Life.

This was a special time for the event that would forever change our lives and make way for the One and Only Person who could save a lost and dying world of humanity.

We owe everything to our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory, who came riding upon that beast of burden that Passion (Palm) Sunday.

1 And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
2 saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me.
3 If any one says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and he will send them immediately."

Jerusalem was the end point for the earthly ministry of Jesus.  It would be the beginning point for the Church that Jesus would build.

They came to "Bethphage," meaning, "house of unripe figs," on their way to "Jerusalem," meaning, "founded in peace" (?), a matter of rational dispute, since this city has been the subject even to this day of great conflict.  Yet, here through Bethphage and to Jerusalem, is where God chose to act on behalf of mankind’s salvation by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-10).  The "fig tree," is often a symbol of Israel.  Yet, this fig tree was not ready for her Messiah as a nation.  They were unripe at that time.  Perhaps, someday they will receive their Messiah, Jesus.  Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem in the steadfast love we ought to have for the sons of Abraham, our older brothers in the faith of Abraham.

Jesus commanded the disciples to go fetch a colt and an ass.  They were near the Mount of Olives, the place where Zechariah the prophet said that Jesus would enter Jerusalem by this route.  He said -- "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me.  If any one says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and he will send them immediately."

The owner of this colt must have known WHO JESUS WAS?

I believe so.  How many of us would release to Jesus beasts of burden that were our livelihood, because of his Messianic claim upon us?

Let us be ready to surrender ALL to JESUS, beloved.

HOLD NOTHING BACK FROM HIM WHO GAVE US ALL!

The owner of the colt and ass did that -- "immediately."  How will we respond this Passion Sunday?

Do we remember the reality that there was a donkey that carried our Lady, the Mother of God to "Bethlehem,"  the "House of Bread?"

Do we not remember that there were beasts of burden in the stall where Jesus was born, when they laid Jesus in the manger wrapped in swaddling clothes?

Do we not remember that it was a blessing that the beasts saw their Salvation born and laying there, the Bread of Life?  And, this pre-shadowed the graces that would come when the Bread from Heaven, the Panis angelorum, would become our daily Bread?

Now, the KING comes -- humble, as he was in Bethlehem, mounted upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass.  This was prophetic on all accounts --

4 This took place to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5  "Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of an ass."
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them;
7 they brought the ass and the colt, and put their garments on them, and he sat thereon.

The Master said to fetch the colt and the disciples obeyed.

Jesus calls us to obedience of faith.

Obedience is something a lot of people reject.  It is a sad state of affairs when we reject God’s Word, who became Flesh and dwelled in our midst.  God desires our obedience to him, because God desires our best.  Disobedience toward God is bad for us.  Obedience to God is good for us.

The disciples gave up their garments for Jesus to sit upon.
Not all followed though.

8  Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

Some with held their garment, but, most spread their garments on the road.

When we come to Christ Jesus, our Lord, we must come to that place where we lay aside that which covers our sin and reckon with God our condition of sinfulness, acknowledge our sins in confession, and be reconciled to God through the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ!

What a Gospel, my beloved!

Let us lay aside all that hinders us and come to proclaim the Glory of the KING who came to die in our place for our sins!

9  And the crowds that went before him and that followed him shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"

This is Hebrew in its highest form!

Hoshanna almost cries out the Name of Jesus, "Yehoshua," or, "Yeshuah," meaning "The LORD (Yahweh) is Salvation."

Here -- they cry out "Hoshanna," meaning -- "Help!," or, "Save I pray!"

Those crying out these words were shouting for God to save through this Man, Jesus, the KING of the Jews!

WHO IS THIS?  (!!)  Is it any wonder others heard this and asked this question?

10 And when he entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, "Who is this?"

The commotion demanded an answer!

As followers of Jesus Christ -- we cause a great commotion when we cry out to God for Salvation!  It gets the attention of others who are seeking God in Godless days...  Do others want to know about JESUS, WHO JESUS IS?, when they witness your calling out to God?

May I be such an one who is a good martyr for my Lord Jesus Christ, my KING, My LORD and MY God and My ALL!

11  And the crowds said, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee."

Yes, but Jesus is much more than a mere prophet from Nazareth and Galilee.
JESUS Christ is Dominus et Deus!  Jesus is LORD (Yahweh) and God!  Immanuel!  HE asks for all, because he gave ALL for you and me to be saved!

He gives us our Daily BREAD!  HE gives us HIMSELF -- Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist.  He gives us the Word of God.

How shall we respond to such giving from the Giver of all things?

WHO IS THIS ONE?

He is the Fruit of Mary’s womb... he is My Savior and yours.  Come let us adore him and fall down and worship him, as he enters Jerusalem to be Salvation for us all!



Deus et Sanctissima.