Author Sheila Walsh tells of putting on a show with her three-year-old son, Christian. Christian wanted to act out Jesus riding a donkey into Jerusalem. He declared that he would be Jesus, and Sheila would play the part of Hosanna. Who was Hosanna? Sheila asked. Why, the donkey, of course! Why else would the crowds yell “Hosanna!” when Jesus rode through the streets?

Sheila asked herself whether the crowds understood the word “Hosanna!” any better than her three-year-old did, for just a week later these same citizens would be witness to Jesus’ unjust death. (1)

Welcome on this Passion/Palm Sunday. This is a day for celebrating Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem as well as his passion, his suffering and death for the sins of the world. The focus of our lesson from the Gospel for today…