Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion is the gateway to Holy Week. As we meditate on the messianic entry of Jesus into Jerusalem according to Matthew (Mt 21:1–11), we enter into the mystery of a King who does not come to oppress, but to serve. Unlike the great metropolises we might imagine, Jerusalem at that time was small, yet the impact of Jesus’ presence there was total, stirring the entire city and demanding from each person a response of faith.
To help you pray, we present the five central points of our podcast.
- “Untie them and bring them to Me” (Mt 21:2)
Jesus orders the disciples to untie the donkey and bring both to Him, the donkey and the colt. This command echoes in our lives: many times we are “tied” to sins, traumas, or self-sufficiency. Jesus desires that we be set free in order to be with Him. The role of the disciples here is essential: we are called to be instruments who “untie” our brothers and sisters so that they may encounter the Lord.
- “The Lord needs them…” (Mt 21:3)
It is a profound mystery: the Lord of all chooses to “need” simple creatures. In Matthew, He asks for both, the donkey and the colt. This reminds us that God uses what we have and what we are, no matter how insignificant it may seem. As Pope Benedict XVI used to say, He works with “insufficient instruments.” If the Lord chose to rely on a little colt, He also counts on you today to enter the world and bring Him to all.
- “Behold, your king is coming to you, gentle…” (Mt 21:5)
The kingship of Jesus breaks with human expectations of spectacle and power. He does not come on a war horse, but on the mount of peace. Like the gentle breeze that Elijah experienced on Mount Horeb, Jesus manifests His glory in simplicity. He is the King who does not impose Himself, but offers Himself; who does not crush, but washes feet. What is your expectation of God? Do you recognize Him in the “gentle breeze” of meekness?
- “Hosanna… Blessed… Hosanna in the highest!” (Mt 21:9)
The cry of the crowd is a plea for salvation: “Hosanna” originally means “Save us, please!” It is the acknowledgment of a needy people before their Liberator. At Mass, this cry becomes our praise, uniting us to the prayer of all who hope in God. To cry “Hosanna” is to open the heart so that Christ’s salvation may heal the areas of our deepest pain.
- “Who is this man?” (Mt 21:10)
The entry of Jesus generates deep agitation and an unavoidable question: “Who is this man?” The crowd answers that He is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth, but the liturgy invites us to go further. He is the Son of David, the Savior, the King of Glory. Before Jesus who enters your life this Holy Week, you must respond personally: Who is He to you? A character in history or the Lord of your life?
Steps of Lectio Divina
- Reading (lectio): Read Matthew 21:1–11. Try to visualize Jesus on the colt and the city of Jerusalem, small and stirred, receiving its King.
- Meditation (meditatio): Is there something in my life today that needs to be “untied”? Do I accept being this “insufficient instrument” that the Lord needs to reach other people? Have you ever felt like the little colt? How do I react to the meekness and humility of Jesus?
- Prayer (oratio): Pray with the cry of the crowds: “Hosanna, Lord! Save me, please! Enter my inner Jerusalem and reign over my desires. May I not be like the crowd that acclaims You today and condemns You tomorrow, but may I follow You faithfully to the Cross…” (continue as the Holy Spirit inspires you).
- Contemplation (contemplatio): Contemplate Jesus’ gaze upon the crowd. Feel the peace He brings riding on the colt. Adore the King who conquers evil not by force, but by meekness and absolute fidelity.
- Action (actio): This week, identify someone who is “tied” by illness, sadness, or loneliness and be the instrument who, through a word or gesture, “unties” them and brings them closer to the Lord.
