As Jesus makes his entrance into Jerusalem riding on a
donkey, the people lay before him their cloaks and leafy
branches, “rolling out the red carpet” as we would say,
for this man whom they believe has come to free them from their oppressors.
He rides into Jerusalem knowing full well that now is the time of fulfillment, now is the time to conquer the world. How exactly does Jesus plan to conquer the world? He doesn’t come with a retinue of armed guards at his side, nor does he himself come equipped with armor and weapon at the ready, but rather rides into Jerusalem in the same way he was borne into the world, completely vulnerable:
“In the child Jesus, the defenselessness of God is apparent. God comes without weapons, because he does not wish to conquer from outside but desires to win and transform us from within. If anything can conquer man’s vainglory, his violence, his greed, it is the vulnerability of the child. God assumed his vulnerability in order to conquer us and lead us to himself” (Joseph Ratzinger, “Christmas Reflection, Ox and Ass at the Crib in Images of Hope: Meditations on Major Feasts”).
Unbeknownst to his persecutors, they “dress” Jesus in those things in which he has come prepared to take on, sin itself. He knows full well that violence cannot defeat violence, sin cannot defeat sin, so instead he humbly takes them on, and we are in turn called to look upon him dressed in that sin, to “behold the Man”, so that we may see it and be embarrassed by it. Only by having to look upon something so grotesque will we be able to recognize its ugliness and from there, truly have a desire to turn away from it, from within.
This image, beautifully created by Emma Miller, a student at the University of Saint Thomas, shows the awful beauty of Jesus dressed in our sin. As Pontius Pilate says mockingly, not
realizing the Truth behind his own words, “Behold, the man” (John 19.5).
Lord, as we enter into this most holiest time of the year, Holy Week and the Triduum, may we truly “behold you” so that we will have the desire to truly conquer the sins in our lives and in the world with the same humility you have shown us and call us to imitate. Give me strength, give me courage, to pick up my cross and follow you, that I may inherit the eternal life you have prepared for me.
I also want to encourage all of you, to either attend in-person or through our livestream, all of the liturgies (services) during the Triduum (three days). Through these three liturgies, we can experience the fullness of Jesus' Passion:
Holy Thursday, Mass of the Lord's Last Supper @ 7:00pm
Good Friday, Celebration of the Lord's Passion @ 3:00pm
Easter Vigil, The Resurrect of the Lord @ 8:00pm
Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us!
