Tuesday in Holy Week
Today, again, our Saviour sets out in the morning for Jerusalem. His intention is to repair to the temple, and contiuue His yesterday’s teachings. It is evident that His mission on earth is fast drawing to its close. He says to His disciples: “You know that after two days shall be the Pasch, and the Son of Man shall be delivered up to be crucified” (Matt. 26:2).
On the road from Bethany to Jerusalem, the disciples are surprised at seeing the fig-tree, which their divine Master had yesterday cursed, now dead. Addressing himself to Jesus, Peter says: “Rabbi, behold, the fig-tree, which Thou didst curse, is withered away” (Mark 11:21). In order to teach us that the whole of material nature is subservient to the spiritual element when this last is united to God by faith, Jesus replies: “Have the faith of God. Amen I say to you, that whosoever shall say to this mountain: ‘Be thou removed and cast into the sea!’ and shall not stagger in his heart, but believe that whatsoever he saith shall be done, it shall be done unto him” (Mark 11:22-23).
Having entered the city, Jesus directs His steps towards the temple. No sooner has He entered, than the chief priests, the scribes, and the ancients of the people, accost Him with these words: “By what authority dost Thou these things? and who has given Thee this authority, that Thou shouldst do these things?” (Mark 11:28). We shall find our Lord’s answer given in the Gospel. Our object is to mention the leading events of the last days of our Redeemer on earth; the holy scripture will supply the details.
As on the two preceding days, Jesus leaves the city towards evening: He passes over Mount Olivet, and returns to Bethany, where He finds His blessed Mother and His devoted friends. …
In Rome, the Station for today is in the church of St. Prisca, which is said to have been the house of Aquila and his wife Prisca, to whom St. Paul sends his salutations in his Epistle to the Romans. In the third century, Pope St. Eutychian had translated thither, on account of the sameness of the name, the body of St. Prisca, a virgin and martyr of Rome.
(Guéranger, P., OSB. (1883). J. L. Shepherd OSB (Trans.), The Liturgical Year: Passiontide and Holy Week (pp. 255-257). Worcester: Stanbrook Abbey.