ALL SAINTS MARGARET STREET

Palm Sunday 2006 Evensong

Fr Ivan Aquilina

The great event of the Jewish year, the Passover, was fast approaching. Many were those who would take the journey to Jerusalem to offer the first fruits of their produce to the Lord. Some came a very long way indeed.

Jesus left Galilee on the Friday morning so that he could get to Bethany, the house of Lazarus, by Friday night. By sunset of the Friday the Sabbath entered so Jesus had to rest and resume his journey on the first day of the week.

In Bethany Jesus was the guest of honour of some friends who also invited Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha. It was at this meal that Mary poured upon the feet of Jesus an alabaster jar of precious perfume that cost the equivalent of ten months salary for a middle class worker. Without knowing, Mary was refreshing his feet for that final journey into Jerusalem and the events that had to happen there.

In fact this is the journey of journeys for Jesus; the first step from Bethany is the first step towards Golgotha. This journey is one of co ordination. All different aspects of the life of Jesus, indeed of the whole Israel are drawn in this journey, drawn towards Jerusalem. How fitting it was that his feet were prepared with such a costly ointment. Mary was preparing those feet which carried humanity towards its moment of hope, Mary, without knowing, was refreshing the feet for that journey which is indispensable not only for Jesus and for her but for each and every one of us.

Very early on Sunday Jesus prepared to approach Jerusalem together with the twelve. Some people came to know that Jesus was in Bethany and therefore flocked there to see him. These pilgrims left Lazarus’ home and headed towards Jerusalem as other people from different parts of the world were converging there too.

Surrounded by this small but happy band of pilgrims Jesus walks towards Jerusalem. Some of the party were carrying with them their offerings, other money to buy offerings in the city itself. After a long journey Jerusalem was now at hand. It must have been the same thrill that pilgrims to Walsingham feel as soon as they see the tower of Fakenham Parish Church. The pilgrims felt so lucky that this last leg of the journey was in the company of Jesus. In this crowd there was a lot of talking, of laughing, of excitement and I am sure a lot of singing also, happy and peaceful people sing, that is why we should not stop singing. This band attracted others on the way and the numbers swelled up. As they approached the hamlet of Bethfage, Jesus recollected himself, this is it, this is the moment of truth, a moment of revelation. It was time for him to declare that he was the Messiah. He arranged for two of his followers to bring a donkey from that hamlet. To fulfil the prophecies he was to enter the city riding on a donkey; in the words of Zechariah:

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Lo, your king comes to you;
triumphant and victorious is he,
humble and riding on an ass,
on a colt the foal of an ass.

Seeing the approaching Jesus, the oppressed people of Israel took the cue and as soon as Jesus rode the donkey they showed their joy by waving palm and olive branches and acclaiming him as the blessed One who comes in the name of the Lord. As they climbed the Mount of Olives they had in front of them the holy city of Jerusalem. What was going on in the mind of Jesus we shall never know this side of the grave, did he want to go back? What we know is that this morning we acclaimed him also and told him: Ride on, ride on in Majesty! And so he did. The place to which Jesus was called was not a pleasant one but he rode on; how about us shall we ride on to the place in which we are called to be? You feel loosing heart? Ask God for more grace, I am sure that this is what Jesus did as he was riding on.

Jerusalem, the representative of all the redeemed could not contain itself as the Redeemer approached it. This was a moment when the Prince of Darkness had no say and had to bide his time, this was not his moment; this was his moment of despair. He really found his match in Jesus. Upon his arrival Jesus went straight to the temple were he prayed. As it was late he left to return to Bethany with the twelve. His work for the day was done; it was time for him to wait on God for events to unfold.

What a long day it was for Jesus, but how significant. There was no going back, all events, indeed all humanity was aligned and entered into Jerusalem with Jesus. However, given that Jesus returned to Bethany would it not be better if he entered on the Monday or the Tuesday and than stayed there? Would it not be more significant like that? The answer is definitely not. It was necessary for Jesus to enter Jerusalem on Sunday. Let me explain.

The main event of the Passover was the meal in which a lamb was to be consumed. People had to team up so that a whole lamb was eaten per meal. This meant a meal for ten people. Now there is evidence to show that on the Passover in which Jesus died there were 180, 000 people in Jerusalem, that means they needed 18, 000 lambs. Lamb sellers flocked to Jerusalem on the Sunday to start selling on the Monday. So as Jesus was heading into Jerusalem, some 18,000 lambs were being herded there also. How appropriate and significant that while the lambs of the Passover were reaching their final destination so was the Sacrificial Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

By tonight everything in Jerusalem is ready and set. We are all there to watch and pray. By his entry into Jerusalem with its many hidden layers Jesus is ready for Holy Week.

Are we ready for Holy Week?