These palm trees were outside my window in the Caribbean this January. Palm branches always seem to me to have a majesty about them. About the 4th century Christians started using them to celebrate the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Matthew describes Jesus as a humble king riding a donkey (21:1-11.) With many of those who knew him spreading robes and branches before him, he would have made a striking appearance to the people of Jerusalem who had never seen him before.
Until now he had preached only in Galilee a considerable distance north of Jerusalem. That's why the crowds at the end of the passage are wondering who he is and others are saying "This is the prophet Jesus who is from Nazareth of Galilee." Placed as it is here at the beginning of Holy Week it's like peeking at the end of story to find that disgrace and abandonment are replaced by triumph and glory.
3 comments:
Distance and abandonment are replaced with triumph and glory. Are we to see that now, in this pandemic? A sign of hope?
Distance and abandonment are replaced with triumph and glory. Are we to see that now, in this pandemic? A sign of hope?
Disgrace not distance...sorry, but I liked replaced with hope and triumph
Post a Comment