MT 21.1-11 Mar 29-26 Hail to the King: When Adoration Turns to Betrayal

There are many spiritual lessons in this seemly simple Gospel.  At the beginning of the Gospel Jesus gives very specific instructions.  I suspect Matthew is telling his listeners that Jesus knew what was going on and that this was a very deliberate act.  I wonder what Jesus was thinking about while he was on the colt entering the city.  He is listening to the people shout hosanna, wave palm branches which was a customary way to welcome an important dignitary.   I am sure he appreciated the warm welcome he was receiving from the people.  But he knew that the same people who were honouring him with the words “Hosanna” would within a week be yelling “crucify him” as he was carrying his cross.    It is often stated that Jesus knew what  thoughts were in people’s hearts, check out John 2:24-25.  It must have been a difficult time for him.  

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MT 21.1-11 Mar 29-26    Hail to the King: When Adoration Turns to Betrayal

Hello, and a warm welcome to my regular listeners and those joining us for the first time—thank you for being here!

I'm Peter Doherty, a Catholic priest and psychologist passionate about the deep connection between psychology and spirituality. For too long, these fields have viewed each other with suspicion. That's ironic, isn't it? Healthy psychology strengthens our spirituality, and true spirituality—rooted in solid psychological health—offers profound meaning and resilience in our lives.

In this short podcast, I explore the Gospel reading for the coming week. It's a resource for preachers preparing homilies, as well as anyone teaching or studying Scripture. I draw from psychology articles, Scripture scholarship, and anthropological insights to make the Gospel relatable.

I see the Scriptures as guides for faith and spirituality. Biblical writers viewed history differently from modern historians.  The Bible is more than just another history book, the texts are richly layered—there's always more wisdom to uncover.

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Today’s podcast focusses on Matthew 21:1-11, it’s the well-known Gospel often read on Palm Sunday in Catholic and other Christian denominations.  The Gospel commemorates Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem fulfilling a prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. Matthew was very concerned that the prophecies about Jesus would be fulfilled.  

Demonstrating that Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of various Jewish prophets would have been especially significant to Christians of Jewish heritage. Notably, all four Gospels record the triumphal entry, prompting the question: Was this merely a public relations stunt intended to portray Jesus as a king and bolster his reputation? I do not believe so.

There are many spiritual lessons in this seemly simple Gospel.  At the beginning of the Gospel Jesus gives very specific instructions.  I suspect Matthew is telling his listeners that Jesus knew what was going on and that this was a very deliberate act.  I wonder what Jesus was thinking about while he was on the colt entering the city.  He is listening to the people shout hosanna, wave palm branches which was a customary way to welcome an important dignitary. By laying palm branches on the road and shouting “Hosanna” (“Save us!”), the crowd expressed their hope that Jesus would deliver Israel from Roman rule and oppression, much like earlier national heroes such as Judas Maccabeus had done.  I am sure Jesus appreciated the warm welcome he was receiving from the people.  But he knew that the same people who were honouring him with the words “Hosanna” would... within a week be yelling “crucify him” as he was carrying his cross.    It is often stated that Jesus knew what  thoughts were in people’s hearts, check out John 2:24-25.  It must have been a difficult time for Jesus.  

Jesus probably recognized many of the people in the crowd, those that he had healed or those who had listened to his teachings.  Because He loved them it must have been difficult to listen to them knowing that by the end of the week, they would betray him.

I am reminded of the parable of the Sower, which appears in all three Synoptic Gospels.  I give you one reference, Matthew 13:1–23 that contain both parable and the explanation.  I am drawn to the example of the seed that falls on rocky soil that initially sprouts but soon withers because it has no deep roots.  Jesus knew that the people’s faith while very expressive was weak.  He is not surprised.  He frequently spoke of the people’s lack of depth in their faith.  In Matthew 8:23-26, Jesus rebukes the disciples for their fear during a fierce storm on the Sea of Galilee, asking, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?"  Mark 6:1-6 recounts Jesus’s teaching in his hometown of Nazareth, where the people's familiarity breeds scepticism. He marvelled at their unbelief, noting, "A prophet is not without honour except in his own town," After failing to heal a boy with a demon, the disciples ask why; Jesus replies in Matthews account, 17:17-20, "O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you?... Because of your little faith... For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain..."

Yet through it all Jesus stays in the present moment.  He accepts the people’s welcome.  I don’t think that is an accident.  He provides for us an example of how staying in the present moment is necessary for our spiritual life.

It seems strange but so many people get stuck in the past, focussing on past events that either they feel guilty about or angry or hurt.  Others long for a simpler time, remembering the so called good ole days.  Others have regrets for missed opportunities or where they failed to do the right thing.  We cannot undo the past, but we can learn from our mistakes, we can gain understanding of ourselves and others who make the same mistake.  Unfortunately, there are some people who do not learn from their mistakes and are bound to repeat their mistakes over and over until they finally learn.

Have you ever heard the expression "There is no fool like an old fool”?  This saying means that foolishness in older people is particularly foolish because they should have gained wisdom through life experience, unlike the youthful errors expected from young people. The proverb first appears in John Heywood's 1546 collection “A Dialogue containing the number in effect of all the Proverbs in the Englishtongue”.  That is the original title for anyone who wishes to follow up.

Sadly, there are people who long for the past.  They see the past as so much better than what they are living now.  That may be true, but they are missing out on the value of wisdom in their lives.

On the other hand, we have people stuck in their worries and anxiety about possible future events. People tend to overestimate how likely their worries are to happen; subjective “gut‑feel” estimates are often much higher than the actual rate.  Researchers at Penn State University discovered that a whopping 91 percent of worries were false alarms. And, of the remaining 9 percent of worries that did come true, the outcome was better than expected about a third of the time. For about one in four participants, exactly zero of their worries materialized.   While this research does have some design flaws it does raise some important questions about the value of worrying.   A little bit of worry or anxiety can be useful as anxiety can motivate us to prepare contingency plans if what we are worrying about comes true or what we can do to prevent the full impact of what we are worrying about but I want to stress I am talking about a little bit of worry.

Sometimes people suffer from anxiety, and they cannot seem to focus on what exactly is causing the anxiety.  Psychologists call this “free floating anxiety”.  If you experience this, I encourage you to see your physician as there are treatments available for this.

So where am I going with this?  We see Jesus living the present moment.  We usually see Jesus speaking about the present moment.  When he does talk about the past or future it is always in the context of how to live the present moment.  The Gospel is a powerful teaching for anyone serious about growing in their faith and spirituality.  Our faith and spirituality primarily grows in the present moment.  When we are locked in the past or focussed on the future our ability to live our life to the fullest is impaired.  I am thinking of my students and others who put in long hours to get ahead.  They are delaying the present for the future.  I understand this and it makes sense but I tell my students to be careful that you try to focus on some balance and be alert to the price you pay by being focussed on your goals.  I recommend you have someone, a friend, spouse or partner who is allowed to challenge you if you are losing your focus.  It was no mistake that when Jesus sent out his disciples, he sent them out two by two.

Thank you for joining me!

Next Sunday, April 5, 2026, Easter Sunday, we will be  reflecting on the Resurrection and the faith of the early Christian community.

New episodes release every Sunday for the next week's Gospel. Big thanks to Heather Patel Doherty and Richard Coulombe for their wonderful help.

Questions or comments? Email me at peter.dohertyomi@gmail.com.

May God richly bless you!