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PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD (YEAR C)

GOSPEL BEFORE PROCESSION (YEAR C) — LUKE 19:28-40


BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD

Dear friends, today we begin the Holy Week with the celebration of Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. We commemorate the free and triumphal entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem. He, "the lamb of God" (Jn.1:29), enters freely as he is not bound under force to do so. This is differentiated from the case of unblemished lambs that, according to Jewish tradition, are brought to Jerusalem on this same day for sacrifice a day before the Passover feast. The Passover is near and it is incumbent on every male Jew to journey to Jerusalem to celebrate (Deut. 16:16). 

Particularly, we notice the praise of the multitude: "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" (Lk. 19: 38). This is a combination of two statements. The first is from Psalm 118:26, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord". The second can be traced to Lk. 2:14, when at Jesus' birth a multitude of the heavenly host appeared praising God saying "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men". 

Two things come to the fore. The first is a reminder of Jesus' kingship which is evident at his birth. Secondly, the praises of the multitude in Jerusalem is actually a custom. How? Pilgrims travelling to Jerusalem, supposedly to celebrate the Passover, are received with the blessing from Psalm 118:26. They paid homage to him as to a KING. Remember that in 2 Kings 9:13 Jehu was received in the manner in which we see Jesus being received- every man took his garment and put it under him. In that passage, Joram asked Jehu, "is it peace?", 'is all Well?', 'is there Completeness?' (Hashalom). 

 The response of Jehu suggests that things cannot be well in a kingdom dominated by Baal religion and the whorings (Zenunim) of Joram's mother. Today, we can also say all is not well.

The Kingship of Christ is associated with Peace. This King comes with Peace. He comes with a divine message that all is well. Labouring under sin and oppression for all this while the King comes to say ALL IS WELL. Surely, the peace with which pilgrims are received comes from God himself for the Temple, the highest and most revered Jewish religious institution is there. Infact, Jerusalem is a city of holy peace (Hierosoluma). This Peace  is God himself and his presence with his people. Additionally, a Jew greets with Shâlôm which also means Peace.

Even as we make our journey today, let us remember and keep in mind this message of Hope that ALL IS WELL. The KING enters to grant Peace, to give himself, his whole self for us. 

Happy Palm Sunday.

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