Today’s Gospel begins with a joyful moment. Jesus enters Jerusalem riding a donkey, and the crowd welcomes Him with palm branches and loud praises: “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
The people were excited. They thought Jesus was coming as a powerful king who would rescue them. But Jesus knew that His mission was not about earthly power—it was about love, sacrifice, and saving souls. He knew that this journey into Jerusalem would lead Him to the cross. Still, He entered the city with peace, with courage, and with love in His heart.
As a seminarian, this moment speaks deeply to me. My journey to the priesthood also has moments of joy—times when people support me, pray for me, and say “Hosanna.” But like Jesus, I am also called to carry my own cross. There will be times of doubt, struggle, and pain, just like the path Jesus walked during His Passion.
In the Gospel, we hear the full story of Jesus' suffering and death. He shares the Last Supper with His disciples, gives His body and blood, prays in agony in the garden, is betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, judged unfairly, beaten, and finally crucified. He hangs on the cross between two criminals. And even in His suffering, He forgives. He says, “Father, forgive them…” and promises the repentant thief, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”
This powerful story reminds me that following Jesus is not just about celebration—it's about commitment, humility, and love until the end.
Jesus chose to ride a donkey, not a horse. That means something. The donkey is a symbol of humility. In the same way, I must not walk in pride, but in simplicity and service. I must be ready to follow Jesus—not just in the joyful moments, but all the way to Calvary. The path to priesthood is not easy, but it is full of meaning if I walk it with Jesus.
Palm Sunday invites us to truly follow Christ—not just with our lips, but with our lives. The same crowd that said “Hosanna” would later shout “Crucify Him!” So let us not be Christians only in good times, but even more in times of trial. Let us be faithful.
As we begin Holy Week, let us walk with Jesus. Let us not run away when it gets hard. Let us be like the women who stayed at the foot of the cross, like Simon who helped carry the cross, and like the thief who believed in Jesus even at the last moment.
Hosanna in the highest! Not because life is always easy, but because we know that with Jesus, even suffering leads to resurrection.
