Hosanna to Our King, Jesus Christ
Readings: 1st: Is 50: 4-7; Ps: 21; 2nd: Phil 2:6-8; Gos: Mt 26:14-26:66
This brief reflection was written by Fr. Njoku Canice Chukwuemeka, C.S.Sp. He is a Catholic Priest and a member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans). He is a missionary in Puerto Rico. He is the Parish Priest of Parroquia la Resurrección del Senor, Canóvanas, and the Major Superior of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans), Circumscription of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. He was the chancellor of the Diocese of Fajardo Humacao, Puerto Rico. Fr. Canice is a member of the Academy of Homiletics. For more details and comments contact him at: canice_c_njoku@yahoo.com, or canicechukwuemeka@gmail.com.
(https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8452-8392)
Today is Palm Sunday. On this Sunday, the Church celebrates the triumphant entry of Christ into Jerusalem in order to accomplish his Paschal Mystery. Today, all the readings highlight the ordeal and humility of Christ.
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Today’s celebration is full of symbols. The green palm is a symbol of peace: “He shall be the prince, and king of peace” (Is 11: 1-9; 9:6). It also represents royalty and restoration. The crowd symbolizes both praise and denial. This is because, the same crowd singing “hosanna” today, soon will shout, “crucify him!” Finally, the donkey is symbolic of Christ’s humility: “…He is humble. He rides on a donkey, the foal of a beast of burden” (Zac 9: 9).
Today’s gospel is from the passion narrative of Christ. It could be divided into three scenes: the arrest of Christ, his arraignment before Roman authorities, and his suffering and death. It is a drama of both praise and betrayal. It started like a comedy but seems to end like a tragedy.
Hence, the journey that started with praises (Hosanna, Hosanna), eventually ended with castigation (crucify Him, crucify him). However, at both ends, God is still at work and in control because: “We know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Rom 8, 28).
The humility that Christ demonstrated today is contrary to the arrogant display of wealth and firm by today’s rulers and leaders. In spite of being God, Christ humbly rode on the lowliest of beasts.
The passion narrative of Jesus Christ is very crucial to our understanding of the true nature of Christ. It presents us with the nature of Christ as a true man. He suffered and died like every other human being. Yet, this did not diminish the fact that he is Lord and God.
Through his passion, He has become our role model, while his cross has become our symbol of hope and salvation. So, before seeing Christ as the glorious Lord of Easter, first, we must think of him as the wounded, and crucified Christ.
Finally, as we sing hosanna, hosanna today, let us ask God to keep us faithful till we sing the great alleluia to the glory of the risen Christ at Easter.
Peace be with you all!
Maranatha
frcanicenjoku 