Tomorrow, Palm Sunday, Christians will commemorate Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. This narrative, found in all canonical Gospels, starts with Jesus, together with the Twelve, setting out for Jerusalem. They were joined by a multitude of pilgrims to celebrate the Feast of the Passover. Along the way, a blind man named Barthemeus, sensing the passing of Jesus, called out incessantly—“Jesus, son of David have mercy on me!” The crowd tried to silence him but in vain. Finally, Jesus called him over and restored his eyesight. As he made his way into the entrance of the Holy City, his contemporaries were of the thought that perhaps this man was to reestablish the Davidic kingship, a temporal leader who would free Israel from the yoke of Roman slavery. This belief was reinforced when the disciples spread their garments along the path of Jesus riding a donkey. The people, caught up by the enthusiasm of His disciples, also laid their cloaks along His path and plucked branches and cried out verses from Psalm 118, Hosanna, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming! Hosanna in the highest!” (Mk 11:9-10)
In his treatise “Jesus of Nazareth, (Part II, p. 7) Pope Benedict XVI interpreted the acclamation “hosanna” as an expression of the complex emotions of the pilgrims accompanying Jesus and of his disciples; joyful praise of God at the moment of the processional entry, hope that the hour of the Messiah had arrived, and at the same time a prayer that the Davidic kingship and hence God’s kingship over Israel would be reestablished.
In biblical times, this kind of reception was customary practice to show homage to a triumphant leader. The scene evokes a similar ceremony known as the Roman Triumph where a victorious Roman general coming from a successful conquest is feted by the Roman citizens to celebrate and sanctify his success in the battlefield.
Humanly speaking, Christ’s Triumph pales in comparison to its Roman counterpart’s. While the Roman general, bedecked with a crown of laurel and regalia of power, rides a four-horse chariot as he passes underneath the Triumphal Arch, Jesus wore the simplest of garbs while riding a lowly donkey, a far cry from his real nature as the Son of God, the King of the heavens and of the earth. His appearance concealed his true statute and dignity, not to mention his real mission to save mankind from sin and bring about a spiritual kingdom where love and righteousness reign. How mistaken the crowds were in thinking that Christ was coming as a liberator who would free them from the yoke of Roman oppression. His entry to Jerusalem which culminated on the cross was a big frustration to the Jews who failed to comprehend his real mission. In fact, the people who warmly welcomed him were the very same ones who clamored for the release of Barabbas when Pilate made them choose between the murderer and Jesus. Finally, they all cried out that Christ, an innocent victim, be meted the ultimate Roman punishment, which is death on the cross.
Much like the Jews who failed to recognize Christ as the true divine leader, how often do we also fail to recognize a true leader who embodies the virtues that Christ so perfectly personifies? How many times in the past have we been frustrated and disappointed by the leaders that we at first enthusiastically choose only to repudiate in the end? How many times have we chosen a Roman conqueror who chooses to sack and pillage rather than a leader who leads and serves? Oftentimes, we are deceived into choosing demagogues; those who have the penchant for making promises without the least intention of keeping them; those who play meek and humble when presenting themselves before the electorate but morph into potentates once elected.; those who preach good governance but would rob us blind if given half the chance. Wolves masquerading as sheep are a dime a dozen these days.
The message of Jesus’s triumphant procession into Jerusalem is as apropos today as it was two-thousand years ago. This is because Christ’s kingdom is a kingdom of peace, love, truth and righteousness; a message that resonates even in the modern times, if not more so. In this season of Lent, it is time to ask God for open-mindedness and the grace of discernment so that we can recognize Christ in every situation we find ourselves in; whether in the slums, in the midst of difficulties and even in the face of triumphs and successes. Oftentimes, people find emancipation in the wrong persons and solutions, never realizing that the peace and love of Christ is the only answer.
Pope Francis gives us some clues on what leaders to seek when he said “I ask God to give us more politicians capable of sincere and effective dialogue aimed at healing the deepest roots—and not simply the appearances—of the evils in our world!”
Saint Augustine sought guidance from philosophies in his search for the right path. But in the end he had to concede that they are insufficient; that only Christ’s love can lead us to God.
In the end, we can all rely in the biblical prescription—Christ is the answer! Tomorrow and every day, let’s all sing: Hosanna to our King!
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