What a difference between Blessed is he who comes and Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him! What a difference between King of Israel and We have no king but Caesar; Give us Barabbas. What a difference between the verdant branches and the cross, the flowers and the thorns that lacerated his head! Here, on Palm Sunday, they spread their garments before him; later they will take away Christ’s garments in order to scourge him and nail him to the cross. Such is the limitation of this world, such the shortness of passing joy….As for ourselves, we are the daughters of Zion and we dwell in the watch-tower and ark of the holy faith. Let us find our joy in Christ, our King, and not in worldly things that vanish like smoke. Isaiah urges us: Look, your saviour comes, the prize of his victory with him. He comes for our sake, not for his own, and desires to enrich us with spiritual wealth and treasures. He came in gentleness…. He came riding on an ass and did not make his journey in a carriage or on a brightly outfit ted horse, for he loves only poverty and does not require any tributes. He wishes to act as Saviour and not to exercise rule like the princes of the earth, for his kingdom is not of this world. Let us therefore immediately rise up and honour him as he deserves with garments and palm branches and songs of praise; let us sing Hosanna to the Son of David with heart and voice. He will certainly save us from the tyranny of Satan and grant us an outstanding freedom and his grace during this mortal life. And after this life is finished he will bestow heavenly glory on us. To him honour through all ages with the Father and the Paraclete. Amen.
Saint Alonso de Orozco
Saint Alonso († 1591), an Augustinian friar and great preacher of the court of Spain under Charles V, was the author of many spiritual treatises. (Thank you to the Magnificat Monthly)