MARY, OUR MOTHER

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #420

And when they were drawing near to Jerusalem and to Bethania, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth two of his disciples, And saith to them: "Go into the village that is over against you, and immediately at your coming in thither, you shall find a colt tied, upon which no man yet hath sat. Loose him and bring him. And if any man shall say to you: 'What are you doing?' Say ye that the Lord hath need of him. And immediately he will let him come hither." And going their way, they found the colt tied before the gate without, in the meeting of two ways. And they loose him. And some of them that stood there said to them: "What do you loosing the colt?" Who said to them as Jesus had commanded them. And they let him go with them. And they brought the colt to Jesus. And they lay their garments on him: and he sat upon him. And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down boughs from the trees and strewed them in the way. And they that went before and they that followed cried, saying: "Hosanna: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Blessed be the kingdom of our father David that cometh: Hosanna in the highest." (Mark 11:1-10)

JESUS, THE PROMISED REDEEMER: Hitherto our Lord had avoided all tokens of veneration on the part of the people; but now He was approaching Jerusalem to suffer and die for the Redemption of the world, it was His will to enter its walls solemnly, as Messiah and King. He desired that thousands of voices should proclaim in the presence of the unbelieving people of Jerusalem, that He was indeed their promised Redeemer. But He did not make this entry in battle-array, and mounted on a war-horse: He rode in, meek and gentle, sitting on an ass, the type of peace, to signify that He was not the Founder and King of an earthly city, raised by force of arms, such as most of the Jews fondly expected, but the Prince of Peace, whose kingdom was one of truth and grace.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)