Homily

Holy week opens with the memory of the entrance into Jerusalem. Jesus wants to enter Jerusalem as he has never done before. The Messiah, who until that moment had kept himself hidden, takes possession of the holy city and the Temple. Therefore he reveals his mission as the true, new pastor of Israel, even if though, as he knows well, this will bring him death. Yet, he does not enter upon a chariot like the head of a liberating army, but rather he enters upon a donkey as the prophet Zechariah had foreseen. The people sensed who he was and they spread out their cloaks and cried �Hosanna�. Finally, the Saviour had arrived. His face is not one of someone powerful or strong, but of a meek and humble man. Just a few more days and the face of Jesus will be that of one crucified, defeated. The paradox of Palm Sunday makes us live the triumph and the passion of Jesus together. The liturgy, in fact, with the narration of the Gospel of the Passion after that of the entrance into Jerusalem, speeds up time and immediately shows us the true face of this king. The only crown in the following hours that is placed on his head is the one made of thorns; his sceptre is a reed and his dress is a scarlet cloak placed on him in jest. But from the cross he changes the world. And he begins to change the world from within, from the hearts of men and women. Seeing how Jesus died, the Roman centurion was struck to the heart and became a believer. It is a pagan who first says, �In truth this man was Son of God!�