Works › Sermons for the Seasons of the Year
Volume 13 · pp. 148–151
Sermon XXXIV. On the Day of Palms
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SERMO XXXIV.
IN DIE PALMARUM.
Adduxerunt asinam, et pullum ad Jesum: et imposuerunt super eos vestimenta sua, et eum desuper sedere fecerunt. Plurima autem turba straverunt vestimenta sua in via: alii autem ramos caedebant de arboribus et sternebant in via: turbae autem quae praecedebant et quae sequebantur, clamabant dicentes: Hosanna filio David: benedictus, qui venit in nomine Domini. Matth. XXI, 7 et seq.
In verbis praemissis sex breviter sunt consideranda:
I. Qui sint Discipuli, a quibus pullus in bivio solvitur? II. Quis sit pullus vel asellus, qui Christo adducitur? III. Quis sit ornatus vestimentorum, qui pullo supponitur? IV. Quae sint vestimenta, quae in via prosternuntur? V. Qui sint frondes, qui in via projiciuntur? VI. Quid significent laudes, quae a praecedentibus, et subsequentibus proferuntur?
I.
De primo nota, quod Discipuli Domini, per quos pullus asinae solvitur, sunt misericordia et veritas. Misericordia, quae Dominum, ut pro nobis crucifigeretur, induxit. Veritas, qua hoc quod patribus nostris promiserat, ad effectum perduxit. De isti duobus Discipulis dicitur in Psal. LXXXVIII, 15: Misericordias Domini, etc. Misericordia et veritas praecedent faciem tuam.
II.
De secundo nota, quod per asellum sive pullum asinae intelligitur crucis patibulum, propter tres rationes, quarum prima est, quia et asellus portat in humeris suis signum crucis. Secunda ratio est: quia asellus est animal natum ad labores, et ad onera portanda, sic et crux Domini tulit peccata mundi. Unde dicit Apostolus ad Coloss. II, 14, quod Christus chirographum decreti, id est, peccatum Adae, quod erat contrarium nobis, tulit de medio, affigens illud cruci. Tertia ratio est, quod hoc vocabulum pullus sive asellus sonat infirmitatem sive debilitatem: virtus enim et potestas Christi, quasi infirmata videbatur in cruce. Infirmitatem suam sive debilitatem ostendit Christus in Psal. XXI, 2 et 7, ubi dicit: Deus Deus meus respice in me, etc. Et infra: Ego sum vermis, et non homo: opprobrium hominum, et abjectio plebis.
SERMON XXXIV.
ON THE DAY OF PALMS.
They led the she-ass and the colt to Jesus, and they placed their garments upon them, and made him sit upon them. And a very great crowd spread their garments in the road; but others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road; and the crowds that were going before and that were following were crying out, saying: Hosanna to the son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Matthew XXI, 7 and following.
In the words set before us six things are briefly to be considered:
I. Who are the Disciples by whom the colt is loosed in the forked road? II. What is the colt or little ass which is led to Christ? III. What is the ornament of garments which is placed under the colt? IV. What are the garments which are spread in the road? V. What are the leafy branches which are thrown in the road? VI. What do the praises signify which are uttered by those going before and by those following?
I.
Concerning the first, note that the Disciples of the Lord, through whom the colt of the she-ass is loosed, are mercy and truth. Mercy, which induced the Lord to be crucified for us. Truth, by which he brought to effect that which he had promised to our fathers. Concerning these two Disciples it is said in Psalm LXXXVIII, 15: The mercies of the Lord, etc. Mercy and truth will go before your face.
II.
Concerning the second, note that by the little ass or colt of the she-ass the gibbet of the cross is understood, for three reasons. The first of these is that even the ass carries on its shoulders the sign of the cross. The second reason is that the ass is an animal born for labors and for carrying burdens; so also the cross of the Lord bore the sins of the world. Hence the Apostle says to the Colossians II, 14, that Christ took the handwriting of the decree, that is, the sin of Adam, which was contrary to us, out of the midst, fastening it to the cross. The third reason is that this word colt or little ass sounds of infirmity or weakness; for the strength and power of Christ seemed as though weakened on the cross. Christ showed his infirmity or weakness in Psalm XXI, 2 and 7, where he says: My God, my God, look upon me, etc. And below: I am a worm and not a man, the reproach of men and the rejection of the people.
1. Hic asellus ergo stabat in bivio, ut per hoc innueretur, quod gentiles et Judaei, qui diversis contrariis viis ibant, per sanguinem Filii Dei, et per fidem crucis forent redimendi, et Christo qui est lapis angularis, per crucem essent adunandi.
2. Stabat etiam iste asellus ante januam, ut per hoc figuraretur, quod sancta crux esset apertura januam regni caelestis.
3. Stabat autem pullus ligatus, quia nullus inveniebatur in terris adeo innocens et mundus, quod per mortem suam posset salvare genus humanum.
4. Unde venerunt duo discipuli Domini, videlicet misericordia et veritas, et solverunt hunc pullum, id est, ostenderunt Dei Filio reservatam mortem crucis, et adduxerunt asellum ad Jesum, et Jesum ad asellum. Quia per misericordiam et veritatem Jesus invitatus bajulans sibi crucem, exivit in eum, qui dicitur Calvariae, locum, sicut testatur Joan. XIX, 17.
De tertio, quod vestimenta, quae pullo supponuntur, antequam Jesus super eum sedeat, signant fructum redemptionis, et gloriam Resurrectionis. Unde dicit Apostolus ad Hebr. XII, 2: Jesus proposito sibi gaudio sustinuit crucem, confusione contempta. Vestimenta igitur asello superposita, sunt duplex gaudium, quod Christo, antequam pateretur, propositum fuit et ostensum, videlicet gaudium quod erat habiturus ex fructu redemptionis generis humani, et aliud gaudium, quia erat cum gloria resurrecturus, et cum carne qua passus fuerat, ad Patris dexteram reversurus. Haec igitur gaudia intuens confidenter ascendit in crucem.
IV.
De quarto nota, quod vestimenta, quae a turba prosternuntur in via, signant corpora nostra. Dicitur enim in Psal. CI, 27, quod omnes sicut vestimentum veterascent. Et nota 1. Quod olim sancti Martyres prostraverunt in via Christi vestimenta coccinea, quoniam corpora sua tradiderunt ad supplicia. Coccus namque sanguinei coloris est. 2. Confessores autem miserunt in via Christi vestimenta hiacynthina, quoniam vigiliis et jejuniis maceraverunt corpora sua, et cor semper elevatum habebant ad supercaelestia. Hiacynthus siquidem aerei coloris est. 3. Virgines vero et Continentes prostraverunt in via Christi byssina vestimenta. Obtulerunt enim corpora sua candida et immaculata Filio Dei, qui est candor lucis aeternae. Byssus namque est quoddam genus lini candidissimi, quod nascitur in Aegypto.
1. Therefore this little ass stood in the forked road, so that through this it would be suggested that Gentiles and Jews, who were going by diverse contrary roads, were to be redeemed through the blood of the Son of God and through faith in the cross, and were to be united through the cross to Christ, who is the cornerstone.
2. This little ass also stood before the gate, so that through this it would be figured that the holy cross was the opening of the gate of the heavenly kingdom.
3. But the colt stood bound, because no one was found on earth so innocent and clean that through his own death he could save the human race.
4. Hence two disciples of the Lord came, namely mercy and truth, and they loosed this colt, that is, they showed the death of the cross reserved for the Son of God, and they led the little ass to Jesus and Jesus to the little ass. Because Jesus, invited through mercy and truth, bearing for himself the cross, went out to that place which is called Calvary, as John XIX, 17 testifies.
Concerning the third, because the garments which are placed under the colt before Jesus sits upon it signify the fruit of redemption and the glory of the Resurrection. Hence the Apostle says to the Hebrews XII, 2: Jesus, with joy set before himself, endured the cross, despising shame. Therefore the garments placed over the little ass are the double joy which was set before and shown to Christ before he suffered, namely the joy which he was going to have from the fruit of the redemption of the human race, and another joy, because he was going to rise with glory and, with the flesh in which he had suffered, to return to the right hand of the Father. Therefore gazing at these joys he confidently ascended onto the cross.
IV.
Concerning the fourth, note that the garments which are spread in the road by the crowd signify our bodies. For it is said in Psalm CI, 27, that all will grow old like a garment. And note 1. That once the holy Martyrs spread scarlet garments in the road of Christ, since they handed over their bodies to punishments. For scarlet is of the color of blood. 2. But the Confessors sent hyacinth-colored garments in the road of Christ, since by vigils and fasts they wore down their bodies and always had their heart raised toward things above the heavens. Indeed hyacinth is of the color of air. 3. But Virgins and Continents spread linen-white garments in the road of Christ. For they offered their white and immaculate bodies to the Son of God, who is the brightness of eternal light. For byssus is a certain kind of very white linen, which grows in Egypt.
Sic et nos ad imitationem nostram debemus offerre Deo pro nobis crucifixo corpora nostra per martyrii desiderium, vel saltem per aequanimem tolerantiam infirmitatum. Debemus etiam ea offerre tamquam confessores per carnis macerationem, et sicut virgines et continentes per castitatis et continentiae conservationem. Sed, heu! multi faciunt e converso. Multi enim sunt, qui omne incommodum carnis fugiunt, et in suis infirmitatibus murmurant et blasphemant. Item multi sunt, qui libentius vadunt ad tabernas, ut ibi vacent potationibus, quam eant ad Ecclesias, ut illic instent orationibus. Item plurimi sunt, qui offerunt corpora sua meretrici, et student fornicationi.
Nota etiam, quod vestimenta nostra munda et nova debemus prosternere in via Dei: sed aliqui sunt, qui corpora sua toto tempore vitae suae polluta, cum fuerint inveterata et emortua, tunc primo volunt ea mitti in viam Christi. Cum enim mortui fuerint, et subter eos sternetur tinea, et operimentum eorum erunt vermes 1: tunc primo se in claustris faciunt sepeliri: contra quod dicit Apost. ad Rom. XII, 1: Obsecro vos fratres per misericordiam Dei, ut exhibeatis corpora vestra hostiam viventem, sanctam, Deo placentem. Viventem, ut sani et juvenes Deo serviatis: sanctam, ut in bono opere jugiter persistatis. Sanctus enim est, qui firmus Deo placet: et quidquid agitis, simplici et recta intentione faciatis.
So also we, in imitation of ourselves, ought to offer to God crucified for us our bodies through desire for martyrdom, or at least through even-minded toleration of infirmities. We ought also to offer them like confessors through the mortification of the flesh, and like virgins and continent persons through the preservation of chastity and continence. But alas, many do the opposite. For there are many who flee every discomfort of the flesh, and in their infirmities murmur and blaspheme. Likewise there are many who more willingly go to taverns, so that there they may be free for drinking, than they go to churches, so that there they may devote themselves to prayers. Likewise there are very many who offer their bodies to a prostitute and are eager for fornication.
Note also that we ought to spread our clean and new garments in the road of God; but there are some who, when their bodies have been polluted through the whole time of their life, and when they have grown old and deadened, then first want them to be sent into the road of Christ. For when they have died, and the moth is spread beneath them and worms will be their covering 1, then first they cause themselves to be buried in cloisters; against this the Apostle says to the Romans XII, 1: I beseech you, brothers, by the mercy of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God. Living, so that healthy and young you may serve God; holy, so that you may persist continually in good work. For he is holy who, firm, pleases God; and whatever you do, do it with simple and right intention.
V.
De quinto nota, quod frondes, qui sternuntur in via, signant sanctas eleemosynas, quas quilibet Christianus ab arbore justae suae haereditatis, vel ab arbore proprii laboris decerpere debet, et jactare in viam Crucifixi.
Et nota, quod verissimum est, quod quidam horum frondium fuerunt frondes olivarum, quia transitus Domini tunc erat per montem Oliveti. Oliva vero profert oleum, dolores lenificans. Unde per frondes olivarum signantur eleemosynae, quae dantur ex possessione talis haereditatis, quae bona conscientia possidetur.
Joannes, XII, 13, etiam dicit quod cum ramis palmarum processerunt obviam Christo; sed palma corticem habet asperam et amaram. Unde per ramos palmarum exprimuntur eleemosynae, quae ex justis laboribus manuum offeruntur.
Et nota, quod quidam offerunt frondes aridos, tales videlicet, qui tunc dant eleemosynas, quando bona sua non possunt diutius possidere. Alii offerunt ramos veneno infectos, qui putant redimere animas suas talibus eleemosynis, quas per usuras et alias iniquitates conquisierunt.
VI.
De sexto nota, quod illi, qui laudes Deo obtulerunt, praecedentes et subsequentes significant bonos Christianos, qui gratias quotidie agunt super omnibus beneficiis exhibitis. Qui etiam per devotas orationes satagunt digni inveniri divinis beneficiis in patria exhibendis.
Quod nobis praestare dignetur, etc.
V.
Concerning the fifth, note that the leafy branches which are spread in the road signify holy alms, which any Christian ought to pluck from the tree of his just inheritance or from the tree of his own labor, and to cast into the road of the Crucified One.
And note that it is most true that some of these leafy branches were branches of olives, because the Lord's passage then was through the Mount of Olives. But the olive brings forth oil, soothing pains. Hence by the branches of olives are signified alms which are given from the possession of such an inheritance as is possessed with a good conscience.
John XII, 13, also says that they went forth to meet Christ with branches of palms; but the palm has a rough and bitter bark. Hence by the branches of palms are expressed alms which are offered from the just labors of the hands.
And note that some offer dry branches, namely such persons who then give alms when they cannot possess their goods any longer. Others offer branches infected with poison, who think that they redeem their souls with such alms as they have acquired through usuries and other iniquities.
VI.
Concerning the sixth, note that those who offered praises to God, those going before and those following, signify good Christians, who daily give thanks concerning all benefits bestowed. They also through devout prayers are eager to be found worthy of divine benefits to be bestowed in the homeland.
May he deign to grant this to us, etc.
Notes
- Isaiah 14:11. (Isa. XIV, 11.) ↩
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