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| QUICK FACTS on PALM SUNDAY |
Palm Sunday or the "Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem", marks the beginning of the Holy Week. From Jericho to Jerusalem,Jesus"goes up" with the people who will celebrate the Feast.Jesus was sent by God for all people,but above all he came as Saviour of the Jewish people.He came precisely when this people needed to be saved, because things were not working out well for them.The prophets had announced a king who would visit his people on a donkey as peaceful people did,not on a horse, like the generals of that time.The symbolism of the donkey may refer to as an animal of peace. A king would have come riding on a horse when he was bent on war and riding upon a donkey when he wanted to point out he was coming in peace.That was why Jesus wanted to enter Jerusalem this way.
The Jews did not think that their Saviour would be so meek and humble. Throughout their history,God saved them from oppression,hunger,and irresponsibility of their famous leaders. This time he came in person,to show them the real path to salvation through pardon and mercy and non-violence but they did not recognize him.The people of Galilee who spontaneously mounted a triumphant entrance for Jesus hoping for a political announcement from him would later deny him.
"Life is a precious gift, but we realize this only when we give it to others." – Pope Francis
The Donkey Jesus Rode On...
Palm Sunday
Quote of Saint on Palm Sunday:
"God in His infinite goodness sometimes sees fit to test our courage and love by depriving us of the things which it seems to us would be advantageous to our souls; and if He finds us earnest in their pursuit, yet humble, tranquil and resigned to do without them if He wishes us to, He will give us more blessings than we should have had in the possession of what we craved." — St. Philip Neri
