PALM SUNDAY. CHRIST'S TRIUMPHANT ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM. Prophecy. See Zech. ix. 9; Psa. viii. 2; cxviii. 25, 26. Gospel Harmony. S. Matt. xxi. 1-17; S. Mark xi. 1-19; S. Luke xix. 28-48; S. John xii. 12-19. Behold, thy King cometh unto AND when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethany unto the Mount of Olives, then sent JESUS two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her, whereon never man sat; loose them, and bring them unto Me. And if any man says ought unto you, (why do ye this? S. Mark,) ye shall say, the LORD hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Zion, the way. And when He was P 2 come nigh, even now at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise GOD with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed after, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David, Blessed is He the King of Israel, that cometh in the Name of the LORD: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. These things understood not His disciples at the first; but when JESUS was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things unto Him. people, therefore, that was with Him when He called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. For this cause the people also met Him, for that they heard that He had done this miracle. The Pharisees, therefore, said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing; behold the world is gone after Him. The And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude, said unto Him, Master, rebuke Thy disciples. And He answered, and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. And when He was come near, He beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knowest not the time of thy visitation. And when He was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is JESUS, the Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. And JESUS went into the temple of GoD, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. And when the Chief Priests and Scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying in the temple and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, and said unto Him, Hearest Thou what these say? And JESUS saith unto never them, Yea, have ye Meditation.' How great virtues CHRIST shows to us by His Humanity in this His Passion, Who, when He was supreme, and rich and powerful above all, seeing that He was the Very SON of GOD according to His Divinity, yet made no show of the excellence of His Majesty in the sight of the people, by any worldly parade; but with much lowliness and gentleness proceeded to the city which rebelled against Himself. This is our King, Whom John Baptist preached; the Lamb of GOD which was come into the world; Who, for the salvation of mankind, came to the place of His Passion, that He might accomplish the work of our redemption, as had been revealed to the holy Patriarchs and Prophets. He turned not aside from the face of His enemies; nor abhorred the holy place on account of the malice of the people; but with greatest charity and loving kindness He approached the envious and passionate, that He might allay the disturbance of their minds: moreover, He sorrowed and 1 For Reflections, see Williams on the "Holy Week." wept for their future excesses and ills. He heeded not the applause and praise of men, but had His Eye open to the future dangers of the perfidious. CHRIST the King, therefore, the LORD of kings, came not with a mighty hand to terrify men, as is the way with princes of this world, but to give an example of humility, by which they might easily advance to the Celestial Kingdom. He gave in this the highest example of true humility and holy poverty, to restrain the pride and avarice of men, who take delight in honours, riches, and family greatness; seeking temporal glory, and the conveniences of a delicate life. But now, CHRIST, the lowly and gentle King, was content to ride upon an ass, even as the HOLY GHOST foretold concerning Him; Who rests upon the lowly and peaceable, and treads down the necks of the proud and lofty by His own power. Our King, GOD from everlasting, and born Man in the end of time, would show Himself such to men, in every word, action, and gesture, from His Nativity even to the hour of His Death; that He might be to all an Example of virtue and holiness, as well to inferiors as to superiors. He showed the way of true humility in the apparel of His singular poverty; by which also any poor man whatever might ascend by a direct road to the celestial Jerusalem. Since He is Himself the Leader, Companion, and Forerunner, Himself the Protector and Governor, Who, sent by the FATHER, came into this world, that the way of humility, (by which we arrive securely in heaven,) He might make plain and smooth. Let the poor attend to this, and be joyful; let the meek hear and receive comfort; because, for the consolation of the poor, our King, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, when He was rich and Prince of all, was made poor and patient for us; that by His poverty He might make us rich in grace, and although little, great in glory. He, therefore, came to men in the likeness of the poor, lived poor amongst men, died poor for men. CHRIST came, the noble and peaceful King, the only Begotten and Beloved SON of the Eternal FATHER, desiring to restore peace between GOD and men, between Angels and sinners, between Jews and Gentiles. Fear not, therefore, daughter of Zion; be glad and rejoice, O Jerusalem, thou holy city ! Behold the lowliness and gentleness, and justice, and poverty of thy King. He comes not to chasten thee, but to pray for thy sins; not to dissolve the Law, but to fulfil it; not to destroy the place, but to rescue it from the power of the devil. He came not to oppress by power, but to save by clemency; not to seek vengeance for injury inflicted on Him, but to suffer the Cross and Death for iniquity committed. He comes without aught of secular tumult and military pomp. For all such things pertain not to His care and service, Who came to preach, by word and example, contempt of the world. But He employed, to carry Him, a sorry beast of burden, in token of poverty and innocence, that by His lowly deportment He might show Himself to be rather pitiful and loving, than a terrible King, and austere LORD. Behold, even as He is Himself, so also are His servants. He chose for His companions, poor and defenceless men, adorned with virtues, not with costly robes; who knew how to strive against the devil by prayer; to subjugate the |