As we hear in today's Gospel, the desire to silence Jesus had become so great in Jerusalem, and the plot to kill him had become so well known that Jesus went into semi-seclusion and the people began to wonder if Jesus would even dare to come to Jerusalem for the High Holy Days. Imagine the overwhelming joy in the people as Jesus begins his triumphant entrance into the holy city! The breakout into song, and let their Hosannas ring! They line the street with green branches and palms. They cheer his entrance as a great king. WHY? Were the Jews so desperate for a regime change or were they so confident that Jesus is the Messiah? If so then why days later did they beg Pilate to "Crucify Him"? I believe the answer lies in HOPE. We trust in God, we believe in His promises, we Hope in Him! May we dare to hope that just the mere presence of Christ is all we will ever need.