St. Augustine: Palm Sunday: Homily 51 on John

St. Augustine: Palm Sunday: Homily 51 on John

Next day, a great multitude of those who had come up for the feast, hearing that Jesus was coming into Jerusalem, took palm branches with them and went out to meet him, crying aloud, Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, blessed is the king of Israel These palms denote glory and triumph: and indeed, the Lord was about to overcome death by dying himself and, with the trophy of the Cross, to win the victory over the devil, prince of death. The word Hosanna is an exclamation of entreaty in the Hebrew, denoting rather an affection than an idea.

Christ is a master of humility. He lowered his own dignity, accepted an obedience which brought him to death, death on a cross; but in thus teaching us humility, he did not forego his divinity: equal in that to his Father, he made himself like us by humbling death. As equal to the Father, he created us; as like unto us,  he unto us he saved us from death. When then the crowd hailed him, crying: Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, blessed is the king of Israel! there was certainly cause to feed the jealousy of the Jews, when so great a multitude was crying out that Christ was their king. But for Christ, what was it for him to see himself king of Israel? What glory was there for the king of the universe to become king of a few men? Christ is not king of Israel to exact tribute, to equip an army and crush a visible enemy: he is king to rule souls, defend their eternal interests and lead to the kingdom of heaven those who put their faith in him, their hope and their love. The Son of God, the Father's equal, the Word by whom all things were made, in determining to be king of Israel, did not assert but humbled himself; he did not thereby increase, but showed us his mercy. For he who is called on earth king of the Jews, is in heaven Lord of Angels.

And so was fulfilled that which was spoken by the prophet, saying: Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy king comes, sitting on an ass's colt. Where did he find this daughter of Sion, to whom is thus addressed the divine word? Amongst the sheep attentive to the voice of the Shepherd; amongst this fervent crowd which praised the Lord at his coming, escorting him with so great a train of followers. It is to her that it is said: Fear not: acknowledge him whom you praise, and be not alarmed when he suffers: the blood that he will shed will blot out thy sins and give thee life.