Today the whole world shares in joy and gladness, celebrating this holy season. For the wonder Christ performs on this day brings to life the prophetic words written long ago. Today, Christ enters Jerusalem from Bethany, seated on a colt, fulfilling Zechariah’s prophecy: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! ... Behold, your King is coming to you; ... Lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9). Mindful of this promise, we lift our hearts in celebration.
The heavenly Jerusalem counts the souls of saints as her daughters; the young colt stands for the Gentile peoples who have come to believe in Him. Through His apostles, Christ has freed these nations from the devil's snares.
People from many lands come out to meet Jesus, palm branches in hand, and honour Him soon after He calls Lazarus out of the tomb and raises him from the dead. A fine testimony from the people! Believing this, they recognise Him as the Son of God. He works miracles among the Jews, but He grants salvation and grace to the Gentiles. His own people do not recognise Him, but the Gentiles welcome Him. Israel turns away from the One who called them to eternal life, while He leads believing Gentiles into the Kingdom of Heaven. For some, He is their stumbling block; for others, He brings faith and a new life.
The apostles lay their cloaks on the colt, and Christ sits upon them. Oh, what a revealing picture of a great mystery! For the virtues of Christians are the apostolic cloaks, since by their acceptance of His teaching, the faithful form a throne for God and a dwelling for the Holy Spirit: as it is said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (cf. 2 Corinthians 6:16).
Next, the crowds place their clothes on the road before Him, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them. Christ becomes the true and right way for leaders and all powerful figures; by covering this path with charity and meekness, they enter the Kingdom of Heaven without heavy toil. As for those cutting branches from the trees, they are the common folk and sinners, who come to God by making straight their way through heartfelt sorrow, humility of soul, prayer and fasting, for it is said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (cf. John 14:6).
Now those walking ahead and those following cry out: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matthew 21:9).
Those at the front are the prophets and apostles. They foretold Christ’s coming long ago and declared to every nation that the Lord had come, baptising people everywhere in His name. And those behind are the saints and martyrs: some fought hard against heretics, casting them out from the Holy Church as enemies; others bore suffering and even shed their blood for Christ. They left everything to walk in His steps and share in His pain. All lift their voices with “Hosanna!” and cry out: “You are the Son of God, who took on flesh upon the earth to raise up Adam, fallen through breaking the commandment; for blessing’s sake, we too will strive to do good works in the Lord’s name.”
The whole city of Jerusalem is abuzz at the Lord’s arrival. The elders rush to bow before Jesus as God; young men rush to glorify Him for the miracle of Lazarus’s resurrection; and even the little ones seem to swoop around Jesus like small birds, glad of heart and calling: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! ... God is the Lord, and He has given us light.” Oh, what unfolding of mystery and fulfilment of prophecy! For the elders here stand for the Gentiles: they lived long before Abraham and Israel. Then, led astray, they turned from God, but now – with faith – they bow to the Son of God. The young men show the image of the upright, who prize purity, an age-old way, for they never cease to glorify Christ and work wonders by God’s grace. And the children mirror all Christians who do not puzzle over Christ, but simply live for Him and die for Him, bringing Him vows and prayers.
Meanwhile, Annas and Caiaphas burn with anger. While everyone else rejoices, they feel only grief and confusion. It would have been right for the priests to be wise and search the prophets to see if this was the Christ. Instead, they hatched a plot against the Giver of all good things, aiming to destroy not only Jesus but Lazarus too, refusing to join the people.
Today all creation sings with joy, freed from the enemy's chains. The gates and locks of hell shudder, and the evil spirits tremble in fear. Hills and mountains flow with sweet gifts, fields and meadows yield up their fruit to God. Those above sing, while those below weep. Angels marvel, as they see on earth the One who is hidden even in heaven. He sits on a colt, yet He is still the One enthroned above the Cherubim, now encircled by the nations He has called. Even infants shout for joy before the One whom the seraphim glorify with fear. And now, on the road to Jerusalem, strides the One who measured the sky with a span and cupped the earth in His palm. The One no heaven can hold now steps into His church in plain sight.
Today the chief priest is furious at the Worker of great wonders, and the scribes and Pharisees look on with jealousy at the children running up with branches to welcome Christ, exclaiming: “Hosanna to the Son of David!”
It falls to us, then, as God's own people, to honour Christ who so loved us. Come, let us bow down and fall before Him. Like the sinful woman, let us kiss His most pure feet in our thoughts, and like her, turn away from our misdeeds. Let us pour out our faith and love upon His head like precious ointment. Let us go out with love to meet Him, as the crowds did, and like branches, let us break off our resentment. Let us spread good deeds before Him like cloaks.
Let us prepare our souls with humility, making them like an upper room, so that the Son of God may enter us and keep the Passover within us with His disciples. Let us stay close to Him who freely chose to suffer. Let us carry our own cross by enduring every insult with patience. Let us crucify ourselves by resisting sin. Let us put to death the desires of the flesh. Let us cry out: “Hosanna in the highest! Blessed are You who came to Your willing suffering, by which You trampled down hell and conquered death!” And ending our words here, let us crown the Holy Church with songs as if with flowers, let us adorn the festival, give glory to God, and magnify Christ our Saviour, overshadowed by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Then, having celebrated the feast with joy, we may attain in peace the three-day resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom belong all glory, honour, dominion, and worship, with the Father and the Most Holy, Good, and Life-Giving Spirit, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Source: Monuments of Russian Literature of the 12th Century. Works of Cyril, Bishop of Turov / K. Kalaydovich. Moscow, Printing House of S. Selivanovsky, 1821.
