S.O.S ALIEME

Palm Sun­day marks the be­gin­ning of the Holy Week, which is pre­ced­ing the week of events lead­ing up to Je­sus’ death and res­ur­rec­tion. Palm Sun­day de­rives its name from the palm branch­es that were used by the crowds and strewn in the path of Je­sus as he en­tered Jerusalem for the Passover rid­ing on a don­key. They shout­ed: ‘Hosan­na!’ (Lib­er­ate us) be­liev­ing that Je­sus was the Mes­si­ah com­ing to free them from Ro­man op­pres­sion. Palm Sun­day is al­so known as Pas­sion Sun­day be­cause it com­mem­o­rates the be­gin­ning of the Holy Week and Je­sus fi­nal ag­o­niz­ing jour­ney to the cross. The Eng­lish word ‘pas­sion’ comes from Latin, ‘pati’ to suf­fer. Palm Sun­day is now called Palm Sun­day of the Lord’s Pas­sion.

Nigerian masses are suffering and facing the scourge of untold hardship fuelled by economic inflation, misplaced government priorities, corruption and bad governance which has been unleashed by the government in power. It is at this time that we need a messiah to save us, not a human messiah but a spiritual messiah.

There is an impor­tant les­son to be learned from how Je­sus was treat­ed by the crowds. We must not for­get about the fick­le­ness of peo­ple. One minute they are prais­ing Je­sus as King and the next they want to ex­change Him for Barab­bas and have Him cru­ci­fied on the cross. The procession, commemorating Christ’s messianic entry into Jerusalem, is joyous and popular in character. The wav­ing of palms was sig­nif­i­cant in those days in Jerusalem be­cause the Ro­mans used to give palms to those who were vic­to­ri­ous in their games, ex­am­ples are char­i­ot races, glad­i­a­to­r­i­al games, mil­i­tary con­quests and the crown­ing of Kings. It is re­al­ly iron­i­cal that Je­sus made his tri­umphant en­try in­to Jerusalem dur­ing his last week on this earth on a don­key, which be­came the throne for our King, the Son of God. 

The reaction of the crowd shows that they recognized Him as their messianic King. The spreading out of garments likewise belongs to the tradition of Israelite Kingship (cf. 2 Kings 9:13). What the disciples did is a gesture of enthronement in the tradition of the Davidic Kingship, and it points to the Messianic hope that grew out of the Davidic tradition.  The pilgrims who came to Jerusalem with Jesus are caught up in the disciples’ enthusiasm. They now spread their garments on the street along which Jesus passes.  They pluck branches from the trees and cry out verses from Psalm 118, words of blessing from Israel’s pilgrim liturgy, which on their lips become a Messianic proclamation: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming! Hosanna in the highest!” (Mk 11:9–10; cf. Ps 118:26).  “Hosanna”, originally was a word of urgent supplication, meaning something like: Come to our aid! 

Although the people cried, “Hosanna to the Son of David!!!” and greeted him with anxious expectation, however, by Friday, they would crucify him.  It shows the inconsistent nature of human beings. One week after he entered Jerusalem was the Resurrection of Christ when he first appeared to the myrrh-bearing women. What happened during the time of Jesus is still happening now especially in Nigeria where people have learnt to call the kettle black today and tomorrow the kettle shall be called white. Politics abound everywhere and it was not an exception that time. Nigerians are suffering in the hands of our rulers when prices of commodities have sky rocketed to almost 500% of what we used to experience.  Nigerians are also crying and shouting this day that Hosanna should save them from tyranny and move them to true democracy.

The symbolism of the donkey may refer to the Eastern tradition that it is an animal of peace, unlike the horse which is the animal of war.  A king would have ridden a horse when he was bent on war but Jesus rode a donkey to symbolize his arrival in peace. Christ’s entry to Jerusalem would have thus symbolized his entry as the Prince of Peace, not as a war-waging king. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!!!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!!!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!!!”  When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee” Matthew 21:1-11.

Jesus did come to defeat an enemy, but not the one they had in mind.  Instead, he came to defeat the enemies of sin, death, and the devil that ensnared every man and woman since Adam and Eve. Jesus voluntarily gave himself as our sacrificial Passover lamb when they led him to his death on the Friday of that week.  The Jewish people wanted victory, victory over the Romans who had invaded their land.  Jesus did come to enact a victory, but not quite the one they had in mind.  Nigerians likewise, want a messiah to save them from the incessant banditry, kidnapping, corruption, religious intolerance and dictatorship rule so that we can remember how Jesus conquered death for us to have a chance of salvation through him.

Special Prayer for Palm Sunday:

Lord God, we give you thanks, for you are good, and your mercy is endless, but we are distracted by many things.  Turn our eyes now to the one who comes in your name, the one who opens the gates of righteousness, and the one who answers when we call. We bless you, Lord, for shinning your light upon us, and for sending your son to us, in human frailty, to walk the road we walk.  Open our eyes that we may see him coming and may praise him with a pure heart, and may walk in the way of his suffering and share also in his resurrection.  Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

God Bless Nigeria!!!