Today we hold in our hands palm branches blessed moments ago. In the ancient world palm branches symbolized victory. For the ancient Israelites, the elegance, strength, and simplicity of the palm tree became a symbol for the just person, those in whom God’s law triumphed.
The palm tree also symbolized victory for the Romans. Palm trees were not native to Italy. Whenever Roman generals conquered other lands, they brought them back as souvenirs of their victories.
The crowds waving palm branches as Jesus entered Jerusalem were declaring his victory. Today we echo them, we join them, declaring Christ’s victory over original sin. Original sin was mankind’s original disobedience to God and obedience to the devil.
That disobedient act in the Garden of Eden by Adam and Eve let loose the scourge of evil we struggle with still today. Witness the many instances of mass shootings in our country, most recently in Boulder and Atlanta. The misery in Central America prompting thousands to flee from their homelands to gather at our southern border. The myriad of civil wars in numerous nations waging on for years. Racial discrimination in a country, namely ours, that clams everyone is created equal yet for many that remains untrue. Original sin gave the devil a certain damaging power over earthly society.
Through his passion, death and resurrection, the events we will celebrate during Holy Week, Jesus reversed the disobedience of original sin by obeying his Father’s will in spite of the many attempts of the devil to thwart him: betrayal by Judas, denial by Peter, abandonment by the apostles, false accusations by the Pharisees and chief priests, being condemned, scourged, whipped, crowned with thorns, then crucified in the most humiating and painful manner of execution ever devised. All of that was intended by the devil to get Jesus to say “No,” to his Father. But he didn’t.
Tradition holds that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, a humble animal used for carrying burdens. Jesus chose that beast for good reason. In biblical times, earthly leaders rode a donkey into the city celebrating their victories. That is why the people shouted “Hosanna!” when they saw Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. This was a sign to them that Jesus was about to usher in his kingdom of peace, even though they did not yet fully understand what kind of a kingdom this truly was.
Unlike earthly victorious leaders, Jesus rode a donkey as an act of humility. This virtue is what enabled him to do as Paul mentioned in his letter, “He emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross.”
Jesus is truly a king but one like no other. His conquest was not of land. His conquest was sin. Unlike Adam and Eve, Jesus did not turn his back on God. He continued to say yes to love, forgive and obey through that excruciating week of his life. Unlike every other person in history, Jeus could honestly say, “I have not rebelled.” His obedience established a beachhead in this world that is still under the devil’s sway. While grasping these palms, be mindful that as the Son of God, Jesus was driven by love and justice, a strong challenge to human arrogance and indifference. His passion is D Day for the devil and liberation for us. This souvenir of palms reminds us of the victory over sin we continue to celebrate as we journey toward Easter.