Behold, Your King Is Coming – Homily for Palm Sunday
In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, One God. Amen. May the blessing of the Father who calls us and His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ who saves us, and the Holy Spirit who sanctifies and transforms us, be with us all, that we may hear His word and bear fruit—thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. Amen.
1. The Triumph that Came with Tears
Today we wave our palm branches and shout with the children of Jerusalem, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” But let us pause and ask: what kind of King comes riding a donkey? What kind of victory is wrapped in weeping?
St. John Chrysostom reminds us that this was no ordinary entry, for the One entering was not merely a prophet—but God Himself. He entered Jerusalem not with the sword, but with peace. Not with vengeance, but with mercy. The people welcomed Him with joy, unaware that they were cheering the Lamb going to slaughter. And yet, even when met with misunderstanding, betrayal, and eventual crucifixion, our Lord did not stop loving.
Palm Sunday is the great contradiction: triumph wrapped in humility. The people proclaimed a King, and indeed, He was—but not the kind they expected. They wanted freedom from Rome. He came to free them from sin. They wanted a kingdom of power. He offered the kingdom of the heart.
2. The Two Processions
Palm Sunday was not just a day of joy—it was a day of choice. A day of two processions.
The idea of the “Two Processions” on Palm Sunday isn’t recorded explicitly in Scripture, but it’s a historically grounded interpretation, drawn from what we know of Roman governance in Judea and the political tensions in Jerusalem during Passover.
Here’s how we know—and why it’s widely accepted in biblical scholarship and pastoral preaching:
Historical Background from Roman Custom
During Passover, Jerusalem’s population would swell from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands. It was a time of nationalist fervor, as the people remembered God’s deliverance from Egypt.
This made Roman authorities anxious. Insurrection was always a threat.
To prevent uprisings, Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, would travel from his coastal residence in Caesarea Maritima to Jerusalem, entering with a military procession—soldiers, horses, banners, and fanfare.
This wasn’t a celebration. It was strategic intimidation—a visible parable of imperial power, saying:
“We are in charge. Don’t resist.”
Scholarly Support:
Scholars like Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan describe this in The Last Week, which explores the historical and theological events of Holy Week:
“Pilate’s entry into Jerusalem was meant to send a clear message: Any attempt to resist the power of Rome would be crushed.” — Borg & Crossan
Jesus’ Entry as Counter-Procession
Around the same time, Jesus enters from the east, from the Mount of Olives, a place rich in messianic prophecy (see Zechariah 14).
His choice of a donkey (Zechariah 9:9) was deliberate—a public, prophetic declaration:
“I am the true King—but not like Pilate or Caesar.”
He came not with warhorses and troops, but with love, humility, and the power of peace.
No swords. No armor. No pride. Only prophecy fulfilled—and a Kingdom not of this world.
Theological Message
There were two processions in Jerusalem that day.
♰ From the west: Pilate, on a warhorse, surrounded by soldiers—the empire of domination.
♰ From the east: Jesus, on a donkey’s colt, surrounded by children and the poor—the Kingdom of peace.
This contrast isn’t incidental—it’s the Gospel in motion.
One procession declares power and fear.
The other proclaims humility, mercy, and sacrificial love.
His throne would be a Cross. His crown, of thorns. His army—the brokenhearted and faithful.
So the question isn’t just historical—it’s deeply personal.
Why It Matters for Us
Every Palm Sunday, we are invited to ask ourselves:
- Which procession do I follow?
- Do I join the parade of worldly success, control, and pride?
- Or do I follow the humble King, who lays down His life in love?
This is the heart of Palm Sunday:
A choice of kingdoms. A clash of thrones. And a call to follow the Way of the Cross.
3. Lazarus and the Earthquakes of Grace
We must not forget that Christ’s entry into Jerusalem came just after the raising of Lazarus—a miracle so powerful that it shook the city and enraged the religious elite. Why?
Because Lazarus was walking proof of Christ’s authority over death. And the enemy cannot stand resurrection. The high priests even plotted to kill Lazarus—can you imagine? Killing a man because he had been raised to life!
This is the madness of the world. As Chrysostom puts it, the miracle silenced all arguments, so they turned to murder. Yet Christ remained gentle, forgiving, and firm in His purpose. Even Judas, the traitor, was given a place at the table and his feet were washed by the Savior’s hands.
Oh, the longsuffering love of Christ! He does not destroy His enemies—He offers them another chance.
4. Come, Even If You’ve Fallen
“Come, come, whoever you are. Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving—it doesn’t matter,” wrote Jalaluddin Rumi (Persian poet, theologian, and Sufi mystic from the 13 century). And does that not sound like St. John Chrysostom’s Paschal sermon? “If you’ve broken your vows a thousand times, come!”
Palm Sunday is not only a call to celebration—it is a call to return. The journey is what matters. Christ, who comes humble on a donkey, comes for you. Not just the righteous. Not just the perfect. But the broken, the confused, the doubters, the tired servants.
This is the week of reconciliation. Let no sin keep you away. Let no shame silence your hosanna. He comes to Jerusalem for you. He comes to the cross for you. He comes to the tomb for you.
And He will come again for you.
5. Walk with Him in Holy Week
My beloved, let us walk with our Lord this Holy Week—not merely in remembrance, but in true participation, as the Church invites us to live the mystery of Christ’s Passion with Him.
The Church cries out in the hymns of Pascha:
“Thine is the power, the glory, the blessing, and the majesty—O Emmanuel, our God and our King.”
But do we offer Him only our voices? Or do we offer Him our hearts, our time, our repentance, and our love?
Let us walk with Him with purified minds and contrite hearts. Let us be crucified with Him, not on wood and nails, but by dying daily to the passions of pride, lust, envy, greed, fear, and unforgiveness. Let us rise with Him in mercy, purity, and hope.
Come, attend the Bridegroom Services. Stand with the wise virgins, and keep your lamp burning with oil through prayer and repentance.
Sit with Him in Gethsemane, where He groaned for the salvation of the world.
Stand by Him at Golgotha, where He opened the gate of Paradise with His precious blood.
Descend with Him into Hades, that you may ascend with Him to eternal joy on the day of Resurrection.
St. John Chrysostom said:
“I am all; only cling closely to Me. I was poor for you, I was naked for you, I was on the cross and in the tomb for you. What more do you need?”
Let us respond, O brothers and sisters, not with one week of emotion, but with a lifetime of transformation.
Let us repent with tears, watch with faith, and follow with love.
Let us enter Holy Week not as spectators, but as participants in the sufferings of Christ, that we may also share in the glory of His Resurrection.
Conclusion: A Call to Follow the True King
Palm Sunday is not a feast of palm trees—it is a feast of paradox and power.
A day when the King of Glory rode in lowliness, and the world did not recognize Him.
A day when divine love was mistaken for weakness, and silence for surrender.
But we, the children of the Church, know better.
The One who entered on a donkey will rise from the tomb.
The One who weeps today will soon trample death by His death.
The One who is rejected by men is enthroned in the heavens.
So let us not be content to wave branches from afar.
Let us draw near—into the temple, into the Passion, into the mystery of His love.
Let us meet Him again—for the first time.
Not just to believe in Him, but to walk with Him.
Not just to honor Him with palms, but to follow Him with our lives.
Not just to call Him King, but to crown Him Lord over our hearts, homes, and choices.
Let us begin Holy Week with repentance in our hearts, the Gospel in our hands, and Christ ever before our eyes.
Let us walk the narrow way, the way of the donkey—not the warhorse.
Let us choose the path of mercy over might, humility over pride, and the Cross over comfort.
- This is our King.
- This is our calling.
- This is our Pascha.
Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.
May the Lord bless us, transform our hearts and minds, that our homes may stand on the Rock, our hands serve in the harvest, and our hearts long for Heaven. Amen.