Detroit–Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron challenged the faithful not to be hesitant in proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah this Holy Week, to be willing witnesses.

During his Palm Sunday homily, Archbishop Vigneron explained what it means to cry out “Hosanna,” comparing the procession people made into the cathedral this Sunday with procession Jesus made when entering Jerusalem when he walked the Earth.

“Hosanna means ‘Save us,’ please, save us,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “Already by the time of our Lord’s life on Earth, it had already become an acclimation to praise God for His power to save us.”

The archbishop said the Hebrews in the Gospel of St. Matthew cried out to Jesus “Hosanna” as a proclamation that He was of the royal line of David, destined to overthrow the Romans and proclaim God’s kingdom on Earth.

Today’s Catholics proclaim Jesus the Messiah with a deeper meaning, knowing His eternal kingdom was won on the cross during the Lord’s Passion, the archbishop said.

“The crowds were inadvertently, unwillingly pointing to Heavenly things that were about to unfold,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “They were unwillingly pointing to the fact that it was through his humiliation, destruction and self-offering that the Son of David would take possession of His kingdom and reestablish the order God prophesized.”

Archbishop Vigneron stressed the importance of today’s faithful to willingly proclaim Jesus as the Messiah who saved the world by His death and resurrection on the cross; a proclamation of faith that is made during Mass through the Eucharist.

“It’s important for us not to use the term ‘Hosanna’ inadvertently or unwillingly,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “Let us not begin to image that we could have a Messiah, a king, who is not crucified. We need to be fully aware of what Jesus did and why he did it. It was by love, divine love, that sin would never take over the world.”

Archbishop Vigneron finished his homily by challenging Catholics, especially young Catholics, this Holy Week to proclaim to the world Jesus as the Messiah, a Messiah who already defeated sin and death and won his kingdom for the faithful.

“So I ask you, don’t hesitate, don’t hold back,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “Proclaim your Hosanna. Because you know that salvation is here. Let’s be good evangelists, especially the younger Catholics, who are here today. We need your energy. Let us all be called in ‘Unleashing the Gospel,’ this good news. That the Messiah saved us. So let us invite the whole world to join us in our acclimation to say.

"Blessed is He, Jesus of Nazareth, who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna.”