Dear Friends:

Today is the Palm Sunday because Palms are blessed and carried in procession. This Sunday is also called the Passion Sunday because the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ is read and with that the church’s liturgy solemnly opens the Holy Week. Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, manifested the coming of the kingdom that the King-Messiah was going to accomplish by the Passover of His Death and Resurrection.

When Jesus sent two of his Apostles to look for a donkey, he put on their lips the explanation to be given to the owner, “the Lord needs it “. (Lk.19.31). The Lord needed the service of the owner of the donkey to fulfill the prophecy, to fulfill His mission. Today Jesus needs our service to fulfill His mission. What is His mission? His mission is to tell people that God loves us and that God sent his Son into the world, that the world might be saved through him. (Jn.3.17).

Jesus rode on an ass. When a king riding on an ass, it was a sign that came in peace. When a king came riding on a horse, he usually came for war. Jesus claimed to be king. He claimed to be the king of peace. He came not to destroy but to love, not to condemn but to redeem and save, not in the might of arms but in the strength of love. Jesus was not a king coming with chariots and horses, with weapons of war as earthly rulers and worldly conquerors do. He was not a political liberator, “He entered Jerusalem as a prince of peace”. (Lk.19.38) Even the pilgrims who accompanied Jesus on the road recognized Him as such, crying out:”Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest”. (Mt.21.9) Hosanna means “Oh Save”.

As we enter the Holy Week, may the Lord Jesus enter your hearts as he entered Jerusalem. Let us actively participate in the Holy week services and conquer our sins as Jesus conquered sin and victorious over death.

May God bless and guard you all.

Fr. Chris