In this episode, Father Wolf explores the dramatic shift from "Hosanna" to "Crucify him" during Holy Week, revealing how crowds are moved by deep passions and often project their expectations onto spiritual realities.

When Jesus simply dismounted at the temple without any grand proclamation, the crowd's frustrated expectations planted seeds of the coming hostility. "There's nothing more dangerous than a crowd fed disappointment, especially when it's hungry for action," Father Wolfe observes. The authorities' subsequent fear-driven actions to eliminate Jesus paradoxically became the catalyst for the very kingdom they sought to prevent.

As we enter Holy Week, this Palm Sunday narrative challenges us to examine where our "Hosannas" might turn to accusations when God's plans diverge from our expectations. Where are we projecting our desires onto Christ rather than embracing his true mission? The beauty of Easter lies in how God consistently "brings about what is new from the ashes of the old"—our disappointed dreams become the soil where resurrection hope takes root.

How might your own expectations be transformed this Holy Week? Join us as we continue exploring the mysteries of faith that challenge and renew us.

• The Jewish people living under Roman occupation carried a constant longing for freedom and the fulfillment of God's promises
• Jesus had spent three years proclaiming a new kingdom, performing miracles that suggested divine power
• The atmosphere in Jerusalem during Passover was charged with anticipation and religious energy
• Jesus strategically chose to ride an unbroken donkey into Jerusalem, signaling his kingdom was not what people expected
• This humble entrance disappointed the crowd's expectations for a conquering Messiah
• The authorities' fear of Jesus led them to actions that ultimately brought about the very kingdom they tried to prevent
• A reflection on how God brings new hope from the ashes of our disappointed expectations

Join us in the coming weeks as we journey through the glorious Easter season together.

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Father Don Wolf is a priest of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Living Catholic also broadcasts on Oklahoma Catholic Radio several times per week, with new episodes airing every Sunday.