Matthew 21:1-17

1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 “Say to Daughter Zion. ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna[b] to the Son of David!”“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna[d] in the highest heaven!” 10 W hen Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’[e] but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’[f]”

14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. 16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”

17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

"Hosanna!"

It was a great day in Jerusalem. Jesus of Nazareth, already known as the expected Messiah because of His "teaching with authority" (Mark 1:27) and His mighty miracles and signs, entered the city. Jerusalem was used to kings' parades demonstrating their power and authority, riding on military chariots well-guarded by soldiers from all sides.

On this day, a king is entering Jerusalem a different way. "Rejoice greatly, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey." Zechariah 9:9. Jesus has already announced to His disciples what is going to happen to Him in Jerusalem -- where both the high Jewish religious and Roman civil authorities will arrest Him, condemn Him to death, torture Him, crucify Him and wax seal the entrance to His tomb.

Today, the crowd gathered to welcome the king. They expect to witness how this king is going to free Jerusalem from the Roman occupation and "restore the kingdom of Israel" Acts 1:6. Hosanna means "save us!" They expect the political Messiah to save Israel from the Romans.

Instead of heading to the Roman fortress as the people expected, Jesus went to the Temple to purify it from corrupt trade. "He overturned the tables of the money-changers and sellers of pigeons and cattle" Matthew 21:12.

This king enters Jerusalem with humility. He fulfills Zechariah's prophecy, turns to the Temple to fight the traders' greed and exploitation of the poor, and saves the great dignity of God's house that commerce had profaned by transforming it into a "den of thieves." We can imagine the poor people shouting their Hosanna to the Lord.

Children, who were the majority of those following Jesus as he approached the Temple Mount near the Roman Antonia Fortress, were singing their Hosanna with innocence. Every group has their Hosanna in mind, some cheering a political liberator, some out of gratitude for the honor of the Temple, and some innocents who were taught that the Messiah will come to save Israel. Every group applauded their own Messiah.

Even the disciples were among those who were expecting the political freedom of Israel and the restoration of the earthly kingdom. This dream will remain until the Ascension, where we see them asking the risen Christ, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom of Israel?" Acts 1:6.

The proclamation for the political liberator will soon turn into a shout to "Crucify Him!" This is how Palm Sunday is a Day of Acclamation and a Day of Deception leading to the Passion.

Take a few minutes of personal reflection about your expectations. Do I expect a liberator in the person of Christ? To set me free from what? Do I consider my temple, known in moral theology as my conscience, to be spoiled by anything that needs cleansing? Who is the Christ that I greet and proclaim when I sing Hosanna?

We enter Holy Week following Christ, carrying our Cross with His up to Calvary to end at the Empty Tomb.

We adore your Passion, O Lord, grant us to rejoice in your Resurrection!