Flowers, Lord’s entry into Jerusalem, before His sufferings

The Savior’s entry into Jerusalem or flowerscelebrated a week before the Holy Easter, reminds of the triumphal entry of the Lord in Jerusalem, before His sufferings.

On that day, Christ was greeted by a lot of people: men, women and children who had green branches in their hands and who manifested their joy, shouting: « Osana! Blessed is the name of the Lord, the emperor of Israel! » (John 12: 13).

Jesus was received by the ridges of the horse being on an Ashin’s hole

« And Jesus, finding a young asin, sat on him, as it is written, » Do not be afraid, the daughter of Zion! « Behold your emperor, sitting on the fungus of Asina » (John 12: 14-15).

Why did Christ chose an asin, most often associated with burden, stubbornness or ignorance – and not another animal?

Ashine’s hand symbolizes the church and the new people

« The entrance to Jerusalem, sitting on Asin, also indicates the gentleness of the eternal emperor of the kingdom of heaven. Not force, but love will characterize relationships in that kingdom. Its members will be innocent like children. Our body is called by Saint Maximus the Confessor asinto the extent that it serves the soul and bears the burdens and tasks of the facts for the acquisition of virtue. The mind itself can become a gentle asin, to climb the Lord and enter into it in Jerusalem above, sharing by His glory. Our mind no longer has to stay as a mastery as anour. ((Father Dumitru Staniloaein his notes about The comment of Saint Cyril of Alexandria to the Gospel after John).

The branches of victory

Since ancient times, the finic branches were considered as symbols of victory And, therefore, the Romanians welcomed their winners or victors in wars with such branches. With the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem, they gain a much deeper meaning, becoming victory which Jesus Christ defeated by the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead, but especially by his resurrection. Also with this meaning are mentioned the branches of the finic and in the book of Revelation:

« After that, I looked and here are a lot, which no one could count, from all the nation and the tribes and peoples and tongues, sitting before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white vestments and having in hand branches. » (Revelation 7, 9).

To this day, following the model of the crowd in the fortress of Jerusalem, the Orthodox Church has arranged that, at the end of the Holy Liturgy this Sunday, the priest should bless the willow branches. Although in the Holy Scripture we read that the Savior was greeted at the entrance to Jerusalem with finical branches, depending on the climate of the country in which this tradition was established, Other branches have been used: willow, olive or even bat. Tradition says that the Romanian people chose the willow, because it best imitates the gesture of humble departure in front of the Savior of the world.

Given that these branches bear the blessing of God as a result of the priest’s prayer, the most appropriate would be that, after dries, they not to be thrown awayci SMOKE or buried in the groundto « return » again in nature. In the traditional village, the households retain the blessed willow even after they dry, adorning with it the icons, doors or windows of the houses.

Source: doxologia.ro

Preacted Prostate Prislop Monastery, 17.IV.1949 at the Flower Feast

The fame of Lazar’s resurrection had crossed all Judea and had all the pilgrims who had come to Jerusalem and surroundings, for the feast of the Jews, of the Easter. They all wanted to see Jesus and Lazarus.

So when all the simple people were happy on Jesus, the scholars and the Pharisees were filled with venom, wanting to kill Jesus and Lazarus.

These moments have chosen Jesus the beginning of His suffering.

The simple and clean, finding that Jesus wants to come to Jerusalem have decided to receive Him so far.

Jesus valued their love. He borrowed an asin-he was poor. (In all the sunrise, the Asin has the honor that she has in us.)

This is the triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

The whole crowd, the luck, had a joy like never.

Only the Pharisees did not enjoy, but the joy of all invented and worse their hearts.

Nor did Jesus enjoy, but the joy he saw. Everyone who knew him in Jerusalem had come to meet him.

Only those who did not know him remained in Jerusalem. They receive it cold and suspicion.

But Jesus also challenged it.

He went to the Temple and found him pretended by his servants in the « robbery cave ». The « robbers » were merchant the sufferings and sins of the people. They also compromised God and suffering. The greatest and smaller temple « robbed » the obidit people speculating their sufferings in the name of Jehovah. The Zarafi made a black scholarship. These were Mamona’s servants. It was now that they were all gathered that day at the Temple in Jerusalem.

To all these Jesus took the whip.

It is also a miracle in this holy anger; The multitude of Zarafilor, pigeon traders -chickens -, lambs and oxen, all, without distinction, run in disarray, informed by a man.

Their stained consciousness does not give them any resistance.

The gesture of Jesus infuriated the greatest of the temple, the elders, scholars and Pharisees, who advised: « At any cost we must kill him because the crowd is taken after him. » When they advised them to kill him, the blind and the slab were approaching him in the temple and healed. And the children-the children raised by the temple, came with branches in their hands, singing « Osana, the son of David! »

This is the impressive fact, that you alone children, the blind, and his shocks and disciples received Jesus in the temple, with faith and love.

Hearing the children, the Jews were angry again.

« – Tell them to shut up! »

« – Have you not read in the prophets: » I put the praises in the mouths of the babies and those who suck « ? »

With these, Jesus left Jerusalem.

This day the passions of the Lord begin.

In all the general enthusiasm Jesus was silent, if he didn’t even cry.

This people, who received him with emperor acclaim, will be bought by Pharisees over three days to shout to Pilate: « Crucify him !!! »

The people, cowardly and frightened, do not understand the price of love and give it to the crucifixion.

The entry of Jesus into our soul, not to be like that entrance to Jerusalem. The temple of our consciousness should not be a cave of robbers, that then we will surely vocate in Pilate’s yard: « Cruise it !!! Lord Baraba! »

That is why we cleaned our Jerusalem and temple in Jerusalem: consciousness, making our children again, the only ones who received it in the temple.

Childhood: our only age that receives Jesus.

So, my children, who receive Jesus today in Holy Communion, remain in my love, which is the love of Jesus!

Father Arsenie Boca, Living wordsCharisma Publishing House