THE LORD NEEDS IT!!!

REFLECTION TO COMMEMORATE THE LORD’S ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM ON PALM SUNDAY

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

It is Palm Sunday. It is a day in the Church’s calendar when we are reminded of the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem; a place that is known as the tomb-city of the prophets. We were reminded in Luke 19:10 that Christ came to save the lost. Now, the time for this redemption has come and the place has been decided. But why was the colt important for the Journey of Christ into Jerusalem? The inhabitants of Jerusalem having heard about all that Jesus had done in many other cities have longed for their own moment.  Jesus request for a particular donkey and dispatched his disciples with the words that if anyone intercepts them, they need only reply: The Lord needs it. The colt was important for the journey of Jesus because we are important to Him. He desires to make his entrance so explicit since he already knew that his time was almost near. The importance of the donkey for such journey does not rely on the animal itself or on luxury, but on the zealous journey couched with courage towards the salvation the Lord gains for us.

The reception offered to Jesus implies that he was already well known by the people as their messiah (a political one) who would cause their political liberation. We remember King Jehu who was offered such similar honour at his coronation (cf.2 Kings 9:13). They may have wanted to re-enact this history as to crown Jesus the political warlord for an initiation of riot. They lost it as Christ was a spiritual messiah, and that they failed to recognize. It is tragic to see the saviour and not recognize him for who He is. They spread their cloths on the road, as many cut branches from the trees (John identifies this as palm). It is from the action of this crowd that PALM SUNDAY is so named. As they did this, they heralded: Hossana in the highest heaven (cf. Mtt. 21:9). This immediately reflects the prophecy of Zechariah in 9:9: rejoice O Jerusalem and be glad for her, behold your king comes to you, lowly and riding on a donkey; on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Lastly, apart from the action of the Jews who held palm in ignorance, we now hold palms in full knowledge and awareness of who Jesus is. We are sure and are aware unlike the old that the palms we now hold are signs of our martyrdom in Christ. These are signs of our victory over suffering, pains and sin. We are victors and no longer victims. We represent those saints in Rev. 7:9 who held palm branches in their hands shouting: salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the lamb. May we enjoy this status now and always. Amen.