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Hosanna Sunday or Passion Sunday
John 12;12-22
On the next day, when the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took palm branches and went out to meet him, and cried out: “Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, [even] the king of Israel.”
Jesus found an ass and sat upon it, as is written: “Fear no more, O daughter Zion; see, your king comes, seated upon an ass’s colt.”
His disciples did not understand this at first, but when Jesus had been glorified they remembered that these things were written about him and that they had done this* for him.
So the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from death continued to testify.
This was [also] why the crowd went to meet him, because they heard that he had done this sign.
So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the whole world* has gone after him.”
The Coming of Jesus’ Hour.
Now there were some Greeks* among those who had come up to worship at the feast.
They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.”
Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
Reflection 1
On Palm Sunday, also known as Hosanna Sunday, we enter into Holy Week—a sacred time that invites us to journey with Christ through the Cross and toward the hope of the Resurrection.
On this day, we do not simply wave palms—we stand at the meeting point of two voices within the human heart. The same crowd that cries “Hosanna” will soon cry “Crucify Him.” This is not just their story—it is ours. How often do we welcome Christ when He meets our expectations, yet turn away when He comes in humility, silence, and sacrifice? In the Maronite journey, we are not spectators—we are participants. Christ enters not only Jerusalem, but the hidden places of our own hearts. He comes not to take power, but to surrender Himself; not to reign by force, but through love poured out on the Cross.Palm Sunday calls us not only to carry palms in our hands, but to carry His Cross in our lives.Will we remain with Him when the cheering fades, when the road becomes difficult, when love demands sacrifice? True glory is not found in the shouting of “Hosanna,” but in the quiet commitment to follow Him all the way to the Cross.
Reflection 2
Hosanna Sunday
Jesus enters for the last time into Jerusalem, where He will suffer and die as a ransom for the whole world, and rise to sanctify all peoples. He will anticipate His death and resurrection by establishing the sacraments of the Eucharist and the priesthood, in the last Passover supper.
People welcomed Him as a King and carried palm and olive branches to indicate that Jesus is the king of the new times, the king of victory over evil and the king of peace, and they chanted:
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.”
The features of the kingdom of Jesus, symbolised by the church, the new people of God, have manifested in humility, love, and peace.
Humility: Jesus did not enter the city as a victorious conqueror by force of arms and violence, but in humility, riding a colt.
Love: Jesus exemplified boundless love, sacrificing himself as a ransom for all humanity, dying on the cross to free us from the shackles of sin and oppression.
Peace: Jesus's message instills peace; dispelling fear from our souls with words of reassurance—"Do not be afraid."The peace of Christ is the peace of love, tenderness, forgiveness, and reconciliation, peace in the heart.
Today, let us welcome Jesus into our hearts and our consciences...
May we spread our clothes before Him and greet Him with joy and gladness... May His arrival dispel falsehoods, hypocrisy, and faithlessness from our hearts.
Jesus rode a donkey
This is a fulfilment of a prophecy spoken by the prophet Zechariah and by doing so emphasised, the humility that was to characterise the Kingdom he proclaimed.
The donkey was a symbol of peace and the laying of palm branches indicated that the king was arriving in victory.
Our prayer is directed to the One who came to soften our hearts, once hardened by sin and self-centeredness and to give us the courage of those children who welcomed Him as He entered into His passion and resurrection. , In remembrance of the words of the esteemed Pope Benedict, “If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great.”
Hosanna Sunday or Passion Sunday
John 12;12-22
On the next day, when the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took palm branches and went out to meet him, and cried out: “Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, [even] the king of Israel.”
Jesus found an ass and sat upon it, as is written: “Fear no more, O daughter Zion; see, your king comes, seated upon an ass’s colt.”
His disciples did not understand this at first, but when Jesus had been glorified they remembered that these things were written about him and that they had done this* for him.
So the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from death continued to testify.
This was [also] why the crowd went to meet him, because they heard that he had done this sign.
So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the whole world* has gone after him.”
The Coming of Jesus’ Hour.
Now there were some Greeks* among those who had come up to worship at the feast.
They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.”
Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
Reflection 1
On Palm Sunday, also known as Hosanna Sunday, we enter into Holy Week—a sacred time that invites us to journey with Christ through the Cross and toward the hope of the Resurrection.
On this day, we do not simply wave palms—we stand at the meeting point of two voices within the human heart. The same crowd that cries “Hosanna” will soon cry “Crucify Him.” This is not just their story—it is ours. How often do we welcome Christ when He meets our expectations, yet turn away when He comes in humility, silence, and sacrifice? In the Maronite journey, we are not spectators—we are participants. Christ enters not only Jerusalem, but the hidden places of our own hearts. He comes not to take power, but to surrender Himself; not to reign by force, but through love poured out on the Cross.Palm Sunday calls us not only to carry palms in our hands, but to carry His Cross in our lives.Will we remain with Him when the cheering fades, when the road becomes difficult, when love demands sacrifice? True glory is not found in the shouting of “Hosanna,” but in the quiet commitment to follow Him all the way to the Cross.
Reflection 2
Hosanna Sunday
Jesus enters for the last time into Jerusalem, where He will suffer and die as a ransom for the whole world, and rise to sanctify all peoples. He will anticipate His death and resurrection by establishing the sacraments of the Eucharist and the priesthood, in the last Passover supper.
People welcomed Him as a King and carried palm and olive branches to indicate that Jesus is the king of the new times, the king of victory over evil and the king of peace, and they chanted:
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.”
The features of the kingdom of Jesus, symbolised by the church, the new people of God, have manifested in humility, love, and peace.
Humility: Jesus did not enter the city as a victorious conqueror by force of arms and violence, but in humility, riding a colt.
Love: Jesus exemplified boundless love, sacrificing himself as a ransom for all humanity, dying on the cross to free us from the shackles of sin and oppression.
Peace: Jesus's message instills peace; dispelling fear from our souls with words of reassurance—"Do not be afraid."The peace of Christ is the peace of love, tenderness, forgiveness, and reconciliation, peace in the heart.
Today, let us welcome Jesus into our hearts and our consciences...
May we spread our clothes before Him and greet Him with joy and gladness... May His arrival dispel falsehoods, hypocrisy, and faithlessness from our hearts.
Jesus rode a donkey
This is a fulfilment of a prophecy spoken by the prophet Zechariah and by doing so emphasised, the humility that was to characterise the Kingdom he proclaimed.
The donkey was a symbol of peace and the laying of palm branches indicated that the king was arriving in victory.
Our prayer is directed to the One who came to soften our hearts, once hardened by sin and self-centeredness and to give us the courage of those children who welcomed Him as He entered into His passion and resurrection. , In remembrance of the words of the esteemed Pope Benedict, “If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great.”