while some cut down branches [1] from the trees and strewed them along the road. And a vast multitude went before and followed after, crying: “Hosanna[2] to the Son of David![3] Blessed is He that cometh in the name[4] of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest!”[5]
There were also in the crowd some Pharisees, who, being filled with envy and hatred, never lost sight of Jesus. Seeing the honours that were now paid to Him, they indignantly[6] asked: “Hearest Thou [7] what these say?” Jesus replied: “If these should hold their peace, the stones[8] will cry out.” The nearer He came to the city, the greater the crowd became, and the more the enthusiasm of the people increased.
Then was fulfilled the prophecy of Zacharias, that Jerusalem should be visited by her king as a Saviour; that He should be poor and riding on an ass [Zach. 9, 9].
But seeing[9] Jerusalem, Jesus wept over it, saying: “If thou also [10] hadst known, and that in this thy day [11], the things [12] that are for thy peace, but now they are hidden[13] from thy eyes! For the days shall come upon thee, and thy enemies shall cast a trench
- ↑ Branches. It was the custom to carry and wave palm-branches as a sign of joy and victory.
- ↑ Hosanna. This exclamation is the equivalent of our “Hurrah !” and means “Save, we pray”.
- ↑ To the Son of David. To the Messias.
- ↑ In the name. Sent by the Lord God.
- ↑ The highest! They appealed to the angels to share the joy with which they greeted their Messias.
- ↑ Indignantly. At the sight of the people’s exultation. As they did not dare to impose silence on the populace, they turned on Jesus and rebuked Him.
- ↑ Hearest Those? How they greet you as the Messias! Do you accept this homage without protest?
- ↑ The stones. The truth that I am the Messias cannot be suppressed; it must be proclaimed; and if men did not bear witness, God would miraculously testify to this truth by means of the very stones. When, at our Lord’s death, His disciples, crushed by fear and grief, held their peace, the quaking earth and the rent rocks bore witness to their Lord and Creator (St. Ambrose).
- ↑ Seeing. From the Mount of Olives. He wept over the blindness and obstinacy which must draw down such a terrible judgment on the city.
- ↑ Thou also. As well as this shouting crowd.
- ↑ Thy day. On this day which is so important for you and so decisive of your fate.
- ↑ The things. Namely the belief in the Messias, which would bring you salvation.
- ↑ Hidden. By your own fault, your wilful blindness.
