04.08.25 - Palm Sunday and the Second Temple Period after the Exile
- tmaley
- Apr 10
- 12 min read
Opening Prayer:
Lord Jesus, we remember your triumphant entry into Jerusalem,
Greeted with palm branches and shouts of 'Hosanna.'
Although with the encouragement of Satan we then showed You the door,
You turned that door into Heaven’s entrance
And left it open for all of us, because that’s what love does.
And as you taught us to pray together…
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen!
Upcoming major holy days: Lent Wednesday, March 5 – Thursday, April 17
Paschal Triduum (Last Supper to Easter Vespers) April 17-20
TODAY:
Lent, week 4, confession, Neuroplasticity and Free Will: Mastering the Art of Change…
Gospel reading for Palm Sunday (4/12), Luke 19:28-40
Bible Timeline: The Second Temple Period, Ezra and Nehemiah, Malachi,
Quote of the Week:
“When people stop believing in God, the problem is not that they will believe in nothing, the problem is that they will believe in anything.” – C. S. Lewis
LENT = New Beginnings
Lent is living out Jesus’ 40 days in our own lives.
The Lenten mantra is Pray, Fast, Give. How do these line up with the three temptations of Adam/Eve and Jesus?
Fast – the antidote for lust of the flesh (physical gratifications that tend to control us/rule us)
Give alms – the antidote for lust for possessions (the desire to have the best, or just have more, and more…)
Pray – the antidote for pride, since prayer = dependence on God, not self. Surrendering the ego.
From the blog post, Neuroplasticity and Free Will: Mastering the Art of Change…
As we reach the fourth week of Lent, the season of reflection, repentance, and renewal continues to challenge and transform us. While we may struggle to keep our Lenten practices, it’s important to remember that even in our most difficult moments, we have the power to change, not just in spirit but also in mind. Neuroscience reveals that we can reshape our habits and create new pathways, and this is a message of hope we can carry forward in our spiritual journey.
In this post, they explore how our brains are not static but constantly evolving. Dr. David Eagleman describes the brain as a "live-wired" masterpiece, capable of reforming itself. Just as we face the challenge of maintaining our Lenten commitments, the brain itself resists change, but through intentional decisions, we can retrain our minds and align our choices with God’s purpose for us.
Our ability to choose is at the heart of both our spiritual and neurological lives. Each choice we make—small or large—can reshape our brains and change the way we respond to the world. This concept of becoming a “different chooser” is at the heart of Lent. It’s a reminder that through the simple act of choosing, we can grow in grace and reflect God’s will more fully in our lives.
Palm Sunday, Luke 19:28-40
There is a selection of readings for Palm Sunday which are extensive since they recall the Last Supper all the way through Jesus death on the cross. The reason for this is to put ourselves back in time so that we might travel along with Jesus the last three days of his earthly ministry. We do not have enough time tonight to do that, so we will be reviewing the first reading, which is Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
Context: Several chapters before this, Jesus left Galilee and preached in several locations as he made his way to Jerusalem or the last time (see red line). As best we can tell, after the Transfiguration Jesus finished teaching in Galilee, made his way through parts of Samaria, then over to Perea on the other side of the Jordan, then back again through Jericho where Bartimaeus was up in the tree, then to Bethany outside of Jerusalem. This is where our story picks up – in Bethany. It is Springtime, the month of the annual Passover that celebrates the first Passover Meal the night before the Israelites left Egypt for Mt. Sinai, the most important event in the Old Testament.
Luke 19:28-40 Palm Sunday
Luke 19:28-40
Jesus proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem. As he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples. He said, "Go into the village opposite you, and as you enter it you will find a colt tethered on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. And if anyone should ask you, 'Why are you untying it?' you will answer, 'The Master has need of it.'"
So those who had been sent went off and found everything just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying this colt?" They answered, "The Master has need of it."
So they brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks over the colt, and helped Jesus to mount. As he rode along, the people were spreading their cloaks on the road; and now as he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of his disciples began to praise God aloud with joy for all the mighty deeds they had seen. They proclaimed: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest."
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples."
He said in reply, "I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!"
Exegesis – Study and Interpretation
What prophecies are being fulfilled?
“Exult greatly, O daughter Zion. Shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you, a just savior is he. Humble, and riding on a donkey” – Zechariah 9:9.
“The scepter shall never depart from Judah… He tethers his donkey to the vine, his donkey’s foal to the choicest stem. In wine he washes his garments in the blood of grapes” – Gen 49:10-11.
What does the colt represent, and why does Jesus bother telling us it had never been sat upon?
1. The colt represents humility, which was Jesus’ ever-appearing message in everything he ever said and did.
2. One would not normally sit on an unbroken colt because it isn’t safe yet. Yet Jesus requests it. The CCC says that the Fall of Man disrupted our relationship with nature, including animals. But Jesus is not fallen. It is no wonder that the wild colt would be tame in his presence. He is pointing to the way it was meant to be and to the future that he is bringing about.
What is the meaning of palms and tree branches being laid down in Jesus’ path?
This is what happens with kings, usually in two circumstances: 1) a coronation ceremony and 2) a victory procession into town (i.e., returning from battle). Both are applicable here: Jesus is the King of the Universe and his upcoming Passion will mark his victory over Satan.
Was there another event in Israel's history that the people might see being repeating as Jesus rode into the holy city?
In 1 Kings 1:32-40, Prince Solomon, the heir of King David, entered Jerusalem on a mule and was then anointed King of Israel. For the people, this historical event was being repeated in Jesus, who is the long awaited Messiah and heir of King David, riding into the holy city.
What other historical connection is there to Jesus’ sacrifice in Jerusalem? Hint: Isaac.
Jerusalem is the same place Abraham offered to sacrifice his son, Isaac, 2000 before this, which foreshadowed God offering His own son. (Abraham said to Issac, “God himself will provide the lamb…” – Gen 22:8.)
Why are the Pharisees so upset about this?
They are worried as Jesus enters the Temple grounds that the rest of the crowds visiting Jerusalem for the Passover will also take up their Messianic proclamations. The crowds at Passover numbered over 200,000!
Is Jesus’ response – that even the stones will cry out – just hyperbole?
Indeed, this can be called hyperbole (exaggeration to make a point). However, Jewish tradition also held that the prophet Jonah once said that when the stones at Judah cry out, the Messiah was coming! In that case, Jesus was also fulfilling this Jewish tradition.
There is another prophecy being fulfilled.
Psalm 118: 19-27
Open the gates of righteousness; I will enter and thank the LORD.
This is the LORD’s own gate, through it the righteous enter.
I thank you for you answered me; you have been my savior.
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad.
LORD, grant us salvation! LORD, grant us good fortune!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
Join in the procession with leafy branches up to the horns of the altar!
Bible Timeline
United Kingdom 1050 BC to 930 BC (King Saul, King David, King Solomon)
Babylonian Exile 70 years.
The Second Temple Period 515 BC to 70 AD.
The Prophets
So far, we have covered Elijah, Elisha, Hosea, Amos, Jonah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Baruch, Lamentations, and Habakkuk. As a refresher, these biblical prophets are classified into “major” and “minor” prophets, which is not based on their significance but on the length of their writings.
Major Prophets: There are four major prophets in the Old Testament:
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Ezekiel
Daniel
Minor Prophets: The minor prophets consist of twelve individuals, whose writings are shorter. They are:
The Prophet Jeremiah captures the long-awaited expectations of Israel:
All the prophets knew that the covenants God made with Israel – particularly through Abraham, Moses, and David – failed due to the people’s infidelity, but Jeremiah (31:31-33) dreams that one day, through Yahweh’s own direct intervention, a faithful Israel will emerge, a people who consider God’s ways not an external imposition but a joy.
Speaking of building a new Temple, who remembers the differences between the Temple and the Synagogue?
The Temple: There was only one Temple and it was located in Jerusalem. In the center of the Temple was the Holy of Holies in which sat the Ark of the Covenant containing the Ten Commandments (word of God) and the Manna (also called the “Bread of the Presence”). Animal sacrifices were made daily at the Temple for the sins of the people. The blood of the animal was its life, and so they were offering the animal’s life as a substitute for their own. In a sense, they were renewing their life with God. These sacrifices had to be done daily because they were never sufficient.
Synagogues: There were no sacrifices at the synagogues. These were community gathering places spread throughout the villages of Isreal for teaching/learning and Sabbath worship, usually in the home of a prominent Jew. Sabbath worship consisted of prayers, singing psalms, Scripture readings, and commentary (a sermon).
How does either the Temple worship or synagogue worship resemble our weekly Mass?
The first half of the Mass is like the synagogue which is attended weekly on the Lord’s Day (new Sabbath Day). We refer to this as the Liturgy of the Word, which includes prayers, singing psalms, Scripture readings, and a homily.
The second half of the Mass is like the Temple because of the sacrifice that Jesus made in the Eucharist, except that Jesus’ one sacrifice was sufficient for all sins. The Mass is not another sacrifice; we our re-presenting the same sacrifice which he instructed us to do at the Last Supper, because his sacrifice is ever-present and eternal. His one sacrifice continues to pay for our forgiveness yesterday, today, and until the end of time.
The Return from the Babylonian Exile
From Babylon to Jerusalem was 850 miles, about four months in a caravan.
Second Temple Period
Once the Jewish exiles returned to Jerusalem from Babylon, they set to work on rebuilding the city and the Temple. This began the “Second Temple Period,” which spanned from 515 BCE (dedication of the new, Second Temple) to 70 AD (when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem 40 years after Christ.
Nowadays, people use “B.C.E.” instead of “B.C.”, and “C.E.” instead of “A.D.” Why? What do they mean?
Until the last century, the common denotation was A.D., which stands for Anno Domini, or the Year of our Lord’s birth. B.C. meant “Before Christ.”
In the last century, in order to make the calendar less religious in nature, “C.E.”, meaning “Common Era,” replaced “A.D.” and “BCE”, meaning “Before the Common Era” replaced BC.
Key Players During the Second Temple Period
Zerubbabel. In 536 B.C., Cyrus, King of Persia, authorized the Jews to return to Palestine and rebuild the Temple. The first wave/group of exiles, consisting of approximately 40,000 Jews, returned under the leadership of Zerubbabel and a priest named Jeshua. They rebuilt the altar and laid the foundations for a new Temple. Only a portion of the 40,000 returned to the city itself, while the remainder of the people returned to their own homes in the surrounding region.
The prophets Haggai and Zechariah were present during this time, especially around 520 BC, which was especially helpful since a period of stagnation in the rebuilding efforts had set in. They reinvigorated the people’s zeal and motivated them to resume the construction of the Temple. As a result, the “Second Temple” was finally completed in 516 BC. Note: Zechariah also prophesied about the coming Messiah and the establishment of God's kingdom.
* Note, the Second Temple expanded greatly during it’s last hundred years under King Herod and son.
Roughly 50 years later, Ezra and Nehemiah lead the next wave of returning exiles.
The Jews return from the Babylonian exile was a process spanning several decades. Just as the Jews had been taken into Exile in several waves, they also returned in several waves. The last wave was led by Ezra and Nehemiah.
Ezra and Nehemiah were instrumental figures in the rebuilding of Jerusalem. While they had distinct roles, their efforts were complementary and crucial for both the restoration, and the future, of the Jewish community.
Ezra's Role: Religious and Legal Reform
Ezra was a priest and scribe well-versed in the Law of Moses. He primarily focused on the religious and legal restoration of the Jewish people. When Ezra arrived on the scene, things were bad and he realized he needed divine help.
Now when Ezra prayed with tears in his eyes and cast himself down confessing in front of the house of God, there gathered around him a very large assembly of men, women, and children, and the people wept bitterly as well – Ezra 10:1.
Ezra’s main contributions:
Reading and Interpreting the Law: Ezra gathered the people and read the Law of Moses to them, explaining its meaning so they could understand and apply it to their lives. These public readings led to a renewed commitment to God's covenant and a desire to follow His commandments.
Religious Reform: Ezra led the people in repentance for their sins and in making a covenant to obey God's Law. This included addressing issues such as intermarriage with foreign women, which was seen as a threat to the purity of the Jewish faith.
Nehemiah's Role: Rebuilding the Walls and Governance
Nehemiah, a layman who served as a high-level advisor to the Persian king, focused on the physical rebuilding of Jerusalem and its governance. His key contributions:
Rebuilding the Walls: Nehemiah oversaw the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, which had been torn down. This was a monumental task that faced opposition from surrounding peoples, such as the Samaritans. Nehemiah organized the workers, motivated them to persevere, and defended them against attacks, ensuring the walls were completed in a relatively short time.
Governance and Social Reform: Nehemiah also addressed social and economic injustices within the community. He worked to alleviate the burden of debt on the poor and to ensure fair treatment for all.
Malachi: The prophet Malachi preached during this same period, about 450 BC. He rebuked the priests and the people for their religious laxity and moral corruption, addressed issues like the decline in temple worship, the corruption of sacrifices, and the people’s failure to honor God. Malachi is consider by the Jews to be the last prophet in Scripture. Christians would also call Malachi the last prophet in the Old Testament based on books that were written by prophets. Discounting that, John the Baptist is actually the last prophet of the OT as well as the bridge between the Old and New Testaments.
Coming Next Month: Esther, Judith, Tobit, Maccabees, Greeks, Romans, Herod, End of Old Testament
Closing Prayer
Malachi 4:1-2
“Behold the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace.
All the arrogant and evildoers will become stubble…” says the Lord Almighty…
But for you who revere My Name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise up with healing on his wings.”
Hail Mary
Full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Cursillo, last call. Interested in meeting weekly over coffee to discuss how God is involved in your personal and professional life? Join Cursillo (cur-see-yo). Initiation is a 3-day retreat at Mission Hurst in Arlington. Men’s is coming up from April 24-27. Contact Ron (ron@hallagan.net), or Jim Ward (Jim.B.Ward@gmail.com). Women is in the Fall, contact Jennifer Pence at Jennifer.pence@gmail.com.
Comments