Is 50:4-7;
Phil 2:6-11; Mt 21:1-11, 27:11-54
The contemporaries of Jesus
were very familiar with the triumphal processions of the Emperors and
Kings.
The Roman
triumph was held to publicly celebrate and sanctify the military
achievement of an army commander who had won great military successes, or one
who had successfully completed a foreign war. On the day of his triumph, the
general wore regalia. He rode in a chariot through the streets of Rome in
unarmed procession with his army and the
spoils of his war. At Jupiter's temple on the Capitoline Hill he offered sacrifice and the tokens of his victory to the god.
spoils of his war. At Jupiter's temple on the Capitoline Hill he offered sacrifice and the tokens of his victory to the god.
The Greek
author Plutarch describes how kings are supposed to enter a city. He tells
about one Roman general, Aemilius Paulus, who won a decisive victory over the
Macedonians. When Aemilius returned to Rome, his triumphant procession lasted
three days. The first day was dedicated to displaying all the artwork that Aemilius
and his army had plundered. The second day was devoted to all the weapons of
the Macedonians they had captured. The third day began with the rest of the
plunder borne by 250 oxen, whose horns were covered in gold. This included more
than 17,000 pounds of gold coins. Then came the captured and humiliated king of
Macedonia and his extended family. Finally, Aemilius himself entered Rome,
mounted on a magnificent chariot. Aemilius wore a purple robe, interwoven with
gold. He carried his laurels in his right hand. He was accompanied by a large
choir singing hymns, praising the military accomplishments of the great
Aemilius. (http://www.sigurdgrindheim.com/sermons/king.html ) That, my friends, is how a king enters a city.
But the King of Kings? He entered riding on a lowly donkey. Zechariah
envisioned the King of Kings, the Messiah, coming not on a great stallion, but
riding on a humble donkey. Zechariah foresaw it. Jesus fulfilled it. (http://www.tosapres.com/sermons.php?sermon=96)
The first
part of today’s gospel describes the royal reception which Jesus received from
his admirers, who paraded with him for a distance of two miles: from the Mount
of Olives to the city of Jerusalem. Two-and-a-half million people were normally
present to celebrate the Jewish feast of Passover. Jesus permitted such a royal
procession to fulfil the prophecies of Zechariah (9:9) and Zephaniah (3:
16-19): “Rejoice heart and soul, daughter of Zion…. see now your king comes to
you; he is victorious, triumphant, humble and riding on a donkey…” (Zech. 9:9).
The King
is described as victorious and triumphant. The Roman Emperors celebrated
their victory over the Kings who were weaker than them. They cruelly and
mercilessly crushed the nation that was not able to stand against their might.
Their victory was basically a victory over the weak and the helpless. But
the victory of Jesus was different. It was a victory over the forces
of darkness. A victory over sin and death. The Emperors conquered their fellow
men by fair and fowl means; but Jesus conquered himself through fasting
and prayer. The emperors conquered the innocent by the power of sword;
Jesus conquered the multitudes by the power of love and compassion. The
emperors forced the victims to join their procession. Jesus’
contemporaries were drawn by the charm of His personality. Jesus condemned evil
and appreciated genuine repentance. He exposed hypocrisy and recognized
sincerity. Therefore, when He saw that the Holy abode of God was
being converted into a den of thieves, He reacted violently. When we
commemorate the victorious and triumphant entry of Jesus into the city of God the
same demand is placed on us too. Fight the evil and stand by Justice. In this
attempt we are not alone. There is a group that has gone ahead of us. When
Thomas More, Lord Chancellor of King Henry VIII of England, saw
that the King was moving away from the precepts of the Lord, he showed great
courage to challenge and correct the king. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1534
for his refusal to take the oath required by the First Succession Act, because
the act disparaged the power of the Pope. In 1535 he was tried for treason and
beheaded. Thomas Becket,
Archbishop of Canterbury engaged in
conflict with Henry II of England over the rights and privileges of the Church
and was assassinated by followers of the king in Canterbury Cathedral. This is
the duty entrusted to every Christian: fight the evil and conquer
it. Then with the saints and martyrs we shall join the triumphal
procession of the king.
Secondly,
the king is described as humble and riding on a donkey. Most of the kings
of the world are known for their pride, arrogance and cruelty. The dictator Sulla during the time of the Roman
republic invented the "proscription", by which he would just announce
whom he wanted dead. This would be read out in public places and he then would
reward anyone who would kill that particular person. Caligula abandoned himself
to cruelty and lust. He declared himself to be a god and would often go through
the streets of Rome dressed as Bacchus, Venus, or Apollo. The Romans were
compelled to worship him and he made the wealthiest citizens his priests. Having
exhausted Rome and Italy, in A.D. 39 Caligula led a large army across the Alps
for the purpose of plundering Gaul, where the richest citizens were put to
death and their property confiscated. The crowd that cheered Jesus was
familiar with such cruelties of the Kings and Emperors. Contrary to
their experience, they found a new procession where the king was
adorned with humility. Jesus invitation is to enter the Kingdom with great
humility. The people of Athens were surprised
to hear the oracles verdict that the wisest man in Athens was Socrates... When
questioned the philosopher, he replied “I
know that I know not” In Chinese philosophy water is attributed the quality of
humility. In fact Lao Tzu writes “How did the great rivers and the seas get
their kingship over the hundred tiny streams? Through the merit of being lower
than they; that was how they get their kingship.” Tomas A Kempis, a medieval
Christian writer wrote, “No man can safely appear in public unless he himself
feels that he would willingly remain in retirement. No man can safely speak who
would not rather be silent. No man can with safety command who has not learnt
to obey.” Such words are profound in wisdom.
This is the
message of the great King. Walk in humility so that you will be exalted in the
sight of the Lord.
Satish