Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them." All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:

"Tell the daughter of Zion,

'Behold, your King is coming to you,

Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,

A colt, the foal of a donkey.' "

So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set him on them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

"Hosanna to the Son of David!

'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'

Hosanna in the highest!"

And when he had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, "Who is this?" So the multitudes said, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee."

- Matthew 21:1-11

Jesus enters into Jerusalem. He has prepared the way with his ministry, among Jews for "the lost sheep of the house of Israel," and also among the Gentiles who follow him in faith. He has prepared the disciples several times, telling them about what will happen to him in Jerusalem. My study bible has a long note on today's reading which I will repeat here: "The Triumphal Entry is celebrated by the Church on Palm Sunday. By Jesus' time, Jewish nationalism had begun to rise, leading to the expectation of a political Messiah. Jewish leaders looked for a national king who would deliver them from the Roman yoke and reestablish David's kingdom. Many Jews wanted a king like Jehu (2 Kin. 9), who shed much blood and who would not hesitate to use the sword for the realization of nationalistic dreams. Others, responding to the messianic signs of Jesus -- especially the raising of Lazarus (John 12:9-11) -- expected more. In humility, Jesus shows he has not come to reestablish the earthly kingdom of David. He does not ride in a chariot but upon a donkey, an animal of peace. This is no mere earthly king, but the King of Glory who has come to reveal the Kingdom of God. Thus, the Church sees the Son of God entering not the earthly Jerusalem only, but more importantly the celestial Jerusalem, to establish his reign and his Kingdom (see Mark 11:10; Luke 19:38). He is taking the New Jerusalem to himself as pure bride, and the children celebrate his entrance as if it were a marriage (v. 5)."

Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them. My study bible notes here, "Matthew reports a second animal, a colt, possibly symbolizing the Gentiles who will advance from infidelity to faith." It's interesting that here we find another instance of the "doubling" in Matthew that we have observed through this gospel. See yesterday's reading and commentary for more on this - That our eyes may be opened. My study bible hints at the possibility also that this doubling (in this particular instance) symbolizes the inclusion of the Gentiles in this plan of salvation, in the ministry of this King. I think I have to agree, that this sort of "doubling" gives us a picture of a dual ministry, all in one, in that Jesus is not just the Jewish Messiah, but the King for all people. He is both, and his salvation is for both, for all.

All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.' " The scriptures are filled, as befits this picture of the Messiah who enters into Jerusalem. We remember that Matthew is writing primarily for a Jewish audience, from a Jewish perspective - but the doubling in his gospel shows that he cares to take pains to express this ministry to all, the Gentiles included. My study bible says (in the note I posted above in the first paragraph) that the Church holds this vision of Christ entering Jerusalem also in a sort of "double vision" - it's not just a picture of Jesus the man riding into Jerusalem and hailed as Messiah by the crowds. It's a picture also of the King entering the celestial Jerusalem - the one that is his bride, the new creation that is for all and "for the life of the world."

So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set him on them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' Hosanna in the highest!" My study bible notes here: "As he enters Jerusalem, Jesus is hailed as Messiah with the words of Ps.118:25, 26. The people knew this psalm well. Associated with messianic expectation, it was recited daily for six days during the Feast of Tabernacles, and seven times on the seventh day as branches were waved. Hosanna means "Save [we] pray." We recall that the Feast of Tabernacles was the feast that celebrated the kingdom of heaven amongst us - and was referred to by Peter at the Transfiguration when he asked if they should build three tabernacles: one for Moses, one for Elijah and one for Jesus. This gives us a reaffirmation of the "double vision" of this event as viewed by the Church: we read of Jesus entering Jerusalem for his final days - but we see the King entering the New Jerusalem - the celestial Jerusalem - as well, going to his bride, the church that is for all people, for the world.

And when he had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, "Who is this?" So the multitudes said, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee. As we head into Jerusalem and the events that will follow, I think it is important to understand the great turmoil of this city, and the rumors that abound among the people. Everyone is filled with a great expectation; something is happening. All the city was moved. Everybody takes note. It is as if we are on a grand stage, where the whole world is watching what will unfold from here. And, indeed, in that vision of the celestial reality that approaches, we are all watching, and I daresay that we will always all be watching. "For the life of the world" Jesus continues his journey. "For the life of the world" we continue to witness what others have seen and heard, what we believe in faith and see with our hearts - what we have not seen, yet believe. Everyday in the life of the world we witness these events in this time at Jerusalem. We see Christ crucified in the sorrows of the world, in the failure to grasp for salvation in the message of love and mercy, in the times we let even ourselves down. Yet, just as in Jerusalem on this day we write and read about here, we are filled with hope, we read his words and are fulfilled, we live in expectation and we know that love and mercy. I find that Christ is not just a man for the Church, for we who call ourselves formally Christian, but truly for the life of the world. He is a figure that cuts not just across our denominations in the Church as a whole, but also across religions and cultures. I know many, also, disillusioned with the institution of the Church for one reason or another, and shame to those whose scandals cause this, yet who still love Christ as the refuge for their hopes and inspiration. In his march toward and into Jerusalem, we find our hope, we look for the beacon of leadership, in the humble man sitting on a colt, the foal of a donkey, who has taught us patience, endurance, love and mercy, and so much more. And we need him as much as ever in today's world.