Jesus draws near to Bethphage (‘a house of jaws’, meaning a place of priests, Orgien tells us) and Bethany (meaning ‘obedience’). St Ambrose sees Jesus coming to the Mount of Olivet so that he could plant new olive trees – the Gentiles. St Cyril of Alexandria sees a similar symbolism in the need for the foal of a donkey – this is a sign of his calling the peoples of the world to his church. Ephrem the Syrian reminds us that he starts out in the manger with a donkey, and now finishes with one too. Justin Martyr sees in the words of Genesis 49:11 an allegory of the things that would happen to Christ – and in the words of Jesus about Jerusalem a prophecy of what would befall that city.
St Ambrose sees in the Apostles throwing down their garments before Christ, a symbol of their virtues which they will give to the service of the Lord hereafter.
Christ takes his seat in an inward possession of our spirits, and fills us with his love and, which will redeem us, though we have done nothing to merit it. The scene is set for what will come, when the world will do its worst – and God will triumph.
All Along the Watchtower 
“See your King coming on a donkey, on the foal of a donkey” I don’t know which of the OT prophets said this but perhaps someone else can confirm.
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Zechariah 9:9
The Coming Ruler of God’s People
Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem!
Lo, your king comes to you;
triumphant and victorious is he,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
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Indeed Jesus riding into Jerusalem and His crucifixion. God’s victory looks remarkably dissimilar to our own conception. But it is the victory of the obedience of the suffering servant and obedience that qualifies Him for exaltation for the powers of death have no right over the ‘Holy One’.
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Thank you Dave!!
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My pleasure, Ann. 😉
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C, I am curious about your translations of the towns mentioned in the Gospel. Bethphage, to my knowledge, meant ‘house of unripe figs’ and Bethany meant ‘house of dates or house of misery/affliction’ – – – at least this is what Strong’s translated the meanings to be. Where did you get your’s from, if you don’t mind me asking?
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Not at all – Origen, whom I often leave out, but these seemed interesting interpretations.
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Interesting as it makes me wonder what his source might have been.
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I’ll see if I can find something.
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I hope you can, as I don’t see Origen simply making something up. I’m sure he had his sources.
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It may even have been oral tradition going back to the Apostles.
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Could very well be . . . and interestingly one that seemed not to survive for some reason.
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The fact that Jesus entered the city from the East was significant also http://www.lentreflections.com/lent-day-41-coming-from-the-east/ via @BishopBarron
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