Input celebration of Christ in Jerusalem is popularly known as the Flower. Professor Ene Braniste Father said that this celebration is also called aspirants to Baptism and Sunday because on this day the catechumens, who were admitted to baptism, went to the bishop to receive Creed that confession of faith. This Sunday bore the name Sunday pardon, because in her honor emperors granting pardons.
Church sees the celebration of Christ advancing to sacrifice on the cross. He could avoid death, however, receives willingly to a prevail. His death is imposed not as a necessity as we imposed new. Therefore he dies for others, not for himself. He had no sin in the flesh was printed, all of us, that was born as a man by his will
There from eternity as God, He took human nature, but framed in a divine hypostasis. If you would like any man born of sin by human passion, she would have died for him and not for us. It would have remained dead as any man, so there would be resurrected. Entry into Jerusalem is a foreshadowing of entry into the heavenly Jerusalem. Thus, not incidentally we sing the night of Easter: “shine, shine new Jerusalem”.
In connection with this event, the evangelist Matthew writes: “Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek and sitting upon an ass, on the colt, the son of the under yoke” (Matthew 21: 5).
Palm Sunday – donkey signification
In patristic interpretation, the ass foreshadowed the Jewish people, while sired prefigures the nations that were to be called to faith.
This interpretation is right, because we know that they will persecute Jews and pagans will receive Christ. Most of pagans will be carriers of Christ throughout history and will come up with him in Jerusalem, the kingdom of heaven.
“They have not understood his disciples at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered and they were written for him, and I have made him.” In general, the disciples understood very little of what was happening with their teacher until He increased understanding (Luke 24.45) and the Spirit of God was lit with flames. Only then were they understood everything, and bringing them in mind.
St. Ignatius Brancianinov sees “donkey colt” something else. This colt discovers the man driven by lust, deprived of his liberty spiritual, passionate and habit linked to physical life. Christ’s teaching loosen donkey stalls, ie fulfilling the will of sinful flesh. Afterward, the apostles bring the donkey to Christ, they put their clothes on the donkey: It sits on the Lord and he commits himself entering Jerusalem.
That means that after the man left the sinful life, is brought to the Gospel and dressed like some clothes apostolic, in the knowledge of Christ and His commandments. When It sits him Lord, showing them is spiritually and dwelling within spiritually in him, as deigned to promise: “He who has My commandments and keeps them on them, the same is he that loveth me: and he that loves me love will be my father. for a man love me, spoke to him my word he will keep, and I will love him on it, and myself to him, and my father will love him, and he will come, and pocket the dance we do “(John 14, 21, 23).
Thus, Christ sits on attributes natural of man who obeyed Him who appropriated his teaching the All-Holy, and brings it, sitting on it, in the city’s spiritual God in Jerusalem whose maker is God, not man .
The crowd gets Saviour in Jerusalem with these words: “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest up!” (Matthew 21: 9). Resurrection of Lazarus was the cause of which is due in the largest extent this animated reception. But do not forget that the same people who glorify and accept it as an emperor, a few days will cry, incited by the Pharisees and scribes: “Crucify him! Crucify him!”.
Jews who took part in this celebration, waiting for Christ to be a leader that alter the political situation in their benefit, and not a God descended among men, to deliver them from sin. It is true that there were many Jews who were bestowed the Lord, believing in Him without hesitation.
Branches meaning
Willow branches are blessed and divided believers in remembrance of palm and olive branches, with crowds greeted Christ entry into Jerusalem. The custom is ancient, even mentioned in sec. IV by Egeria cape. Shepherd of Hermas called martyrs “willow branches bearing fruit” of the divine tree which is Christ.
Willow, tree afflicted with beautiful flowers and fruits with a little wood searched take before the towering, beautiful and valued and in humility, its branches adorned with golden branches offered to meet the Lord, loving church. Love offering is received, willow branches are blessed and sanctified, and the people in them holds sacred rites, as a sign of victory of life over death.
St. John Chrysostom says the branches are the virtues earned during the lent that is about to end. These virtues are repentance, honesty, charity and our inner renewal.