2 April, Antonio, Cardinal Bacci: Meditations For Each Day

The Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and the Last Supper

1. Imagine the joyful and triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The cheering crowds line the street along which He approaches, riding upon the foal of an ass. Palm and olive branches are waved aloft, while groups of children cry out: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Cf. Mt. 21:9) In the midst of all this exultation Jesus appears to be absorbed and detached. In his representation of this scene a famous artist painted a large cross in the distance, far beyond the cheering crowd. The divine vision of Jesus certainly saw this cross. He knew that in a few days He would be arrested as a malefactor and crucified between two thieves. The ingratitude of men towards the divine Redeemer was to go even to this length. We also shall have our moments of happiness and of victory in life. But, like Jesus, we must not trust too much in the joys and conquests of this world. The warning of the Holy Spirit that “the end of joy may be sorrow” (Prov. 14:13) is, unfortunately, only too true. Earthly happiness lasts for a short time and ends in grief. So we must seek the true and lasting happiness which comes from divine grace and from constant conformity with the will of God. This happiness will never pass away, but will become everlasting in Heaven.

2. The evening before Our Lord was arrested and put to death, Judas was negotiating His betrayal for a handful of money. Peter was about to deny Him in public and the Apostles would abandon Him in the hour of trial. Jesus knew all this. He saw, moreover, how men would be forgetful of Him throughout the ages, and how they would insult Him and hate Him. Nevertheless, He resolved to remain amongst us forever under the Eucharistic species. “I have greatly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer.” (Luke 22:15) Why did He say this? Because He was about to work the most amazing miracle of His infinite love, the institution of the Blessed Eucharist. He took bread, blessed and broke it and gave it to His Apostles, saying: “This is my body, which is being given for you.” Then He took the cup of wine, gave thanks to His heavenly Father and said: “This is the chalice of my blood, the mystery of faith, which shall be shed for you. Do this in remembrance of Me,” He said. There was nothing left for the infinite power and goodness of Jesus to give. He had given Himself, not only to His Apostles, but to all men throughout the ages. If we meditated deeply on this mystery of infinite love, we should certainly love Jesus very much. We should joyfully accept the nourishment of His immaculate body and should live with the supernatural life which comes from Him.

3. We may often experience the desire to be good and holy... But soon the trials of life, the impulses of passion, and the distractions of our daily business disperse these noble thoughts. We are caught up in the roundabout of life, immersed in mediocrity and, perhaps, in sin. Why should this happen? Because virtue is difficult, a prolonged martyrdom, in fact. We cannot find the strength to make this lofty ascent towards perfection.

It is necessary that Jesus, the divine food of the soul, should enter our poor, fallen nature. Then we shall be transformed and shall be capable of anything. We shall say with St. Paul: “It is now no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me.” (Cf. Gal. 2:20)