Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday, also known as Passion Sunday, is the commemoration of the Lord Jesus' entry into Jerusalem before his passion and death. According to the Gospel of John: "...when the great crowd that had come to the (Passover) feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took palm branches and went out to meet him, and cried out: 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel.' Jesus found an ass and sat upon it, as is written (by the prophet Zechariah): 'Fear no more, O daughter Zion; see, your king comes, seated upon an ass'." John 12: 12b-15 NAB

In the ancient world, particularly in the Hebrew culture, palm branches were symbols of victory and honor. Often, the path of a returning warrior or king would be strewn with palms. On the first Palm Sunday, the fact that the crowd carried palm branches as well as their cries of "Hosanna" showed that they rightfully recognized Jesus as their Messiah and king. However, the celebration would not last long: the actions of the crowd further inflamed the already frustrated Jewish authorities. The authorities, who had always been jealous of Jesus, were horrified that he would enter Jerusalem in the fashion of a king. Therefore, they set in motion the events that would lead to Our Lord's passion, death, and resurrection.

For the most part, the modern world has difficulty understanding just how serious Our Lord's actions on Palm Sunday were. Although Palestine was technically ruled by the Herodian dynasty, Jerusalem was under Roman jurisdiction. The Jewish authorities knew that any man claiming to be a king would be seized by the Romans, tried for treason, and, most likely, executed. The Jewish authorities would later use Our Lord's actions on Palm Sunday as the main charge in the trial before Pontius Pilate.

Palm Sunday, which always falls on the last Sunday before Easter, is celebrated by nearly every Christian denomination. Traditionally, blessed palm branches, sometimes woven into crosses, will be distributed to the congregation on this, the day that marks the beginning of Holy Week. However, because palms are not native to every country, many cultures have developed their own traditions. For example, most Eastern Orthodox churches will use pussy willow branches instead. The churches of India will often use brightly colored flowers.

Many denominations, particularly the Catholic and Anglican Churches, make it a point to remember that the joy of Palm Sunday is the precursor to the sorrow of Holy Thursday and Good Friday. In the Catholic Church, for example, Palm Sunday is the first time in the liturgical year that the Gospel account of our Lord's passion and death is read. Also, leftover palms are burned and the ashes are used at the next year's Ash Wednesday service.

However, Palm Sunday is, for the most part, considered a day of celebration. Most Christian denominations observe some form of Lent; Palm Sunday is a day when fasting and penance can be moderately set aside. One traditional food for this day is figs. The Gospel of Mark 11: 12-14 says that, not long after Our Lord entered Jerusalem, he looked for food on a nearby fig tree. In fact, some cultures refer to Palm Sunday as "Fig Sunday". In Wales, Palm Sunday is called Sul y Blodau or "Flowering Sunday", in reference to the seasonal flowering of the fig tree.

In 1986, Pope John Paul II instituted World Youth Day, a worldwide celebration of faith and youth. Every two or three years an international meeting is held and the youth of the world gather in a certain city. However, World Youth Day is celebrated every year on Palm Sunday in the local diocese. It is encouraged that, under the guidance of the local bishop, local youth gather at their diocese's cathedral and incorporate their celebration into the Palm Sunday liturgy.

Palm Sunday is one of the most important feast days of the Christian faith. Our Lord, in proper observance of his Jewish faith, entered the Holy City, preparing to celebrate the Passover. A few days after Palm Sunday, Our Lord would become the Paschal Lamb that would bring salvation to the world.