The Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and the Last Supper
1. Imagine the joyful and triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The
cheering crowds line the street along which He approaches, riding upon
the foal of an ass. Palm and olive branches are waved aloft, while
groups of children cry out: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he
who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
(Cf. Mt. 21:9) In the midst of all this exultation Jesus appears to be
absorbed and detached. In his representation of this scene a famous
artist painted a large cross in the distance, far beyond the cheering
crowd. The divine vision of Jesus certainly saw this cross. He knew that
in a few days He would be arrested as a malefactor and crucified
between two thieves. The ingratitude of men towards the divine Redeemer
was to go even to this length. We also shall have our moments of
happiness and of victory in life. But, like Jesus, we must not trust too
much in the joys and conquests of this world. The warning of the Holy
Spirit that “the end of joy may be sorrow” (Prov. 14:13) is,
unfortunately, only too true. Earthly happiness lasts for a short time
and ends in grief. So we must seek the true and lasting happiness which
comes from divine grace and from constant conformity with the will of
God. This happiness will never pass away, but will become everlasting in
Heaven.
2. The evening before Our Lord was arrested and put to
death, Judas was negotiating His betrayal for a handful of money. Peter
was about to deny Him in public and the Apostles would abandon Him in
the hour of trial. Jesus knew all this. He saw, moreover, how men would
be forgetful of Him throughout the ages, and how they would insult Him
and hate Him. Nevertheless, He resolved to remain amongst us forever
under the Eucharistic species. “I have greatly desired to eat this
passover with you before I suffer.” (Luke 22:15) Why did He say this?
Because He was about to work the most amazing miracle of His infinite
love, the institution of the Blessed Eucharist. He took bread, blessed
and broke it and gave it to His Apostles, saying: “This is my body,
which is being given for you.” Then He took the cup of wine, gave thanks
to His heavenly Father and said: “This is the chalice of my blood, the
mystery of faith, which shall be shed for you. Do this in remembrance of
Me,” He said. There was nothing left for the infinite power and
goodness of Jesus to give. He had given Himself, not only to His
Apostles, but to all men throughout the ages. If we meditated deeply on
this mystery of infinite love, we should certainly love Jesus very much.
We should joyfully accept the nourishment of His immaculate body and
should live with the supernatural life which comes from Him.
3.
We may often experience the desire to be good and holy... But soon the
trials of life, the impulses of passion, and the distractions of our
daily business disperse these noble thoughts. We are caught up in the
roundabout of life, immersed in mediocrity and, perhaps, in sin. Why
should this happen? Because virtue is difficult, a prolonged martyrdom,
in fact. We cannot find the strength to make this lofty ascent towards
perfection.
It is necessary that Jesus, the divine food of the
soul, should enter our poor, fallen nature. Then we shall be transformed
and shall be capable of anything. We shall say with St. Paul: “It is
now no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me.” (Cf. Gal. 2:20)
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