Holy Week – Palm Sunday
Posted by Joshua Claybourn on 20 March 2005 | one response
Today is Palm Sunday. The day commemorates the spreading of palms and clothing in Jesus’ path as He entered Jerusalem prior to His crucifixion:
“They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:7-9)
This fulfilled the Messianic prophecy written 500 years earlier which can be found in Zechariah 9:9. It reads,
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and having salvation,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
One Response to “Holy Week – Palm Sunday”
my wife’s parish read the Passion for its Gospel reading on Palm Sunday and focused much of the Mass on Christ’s suffering and death. She became defensive when I pointed out that Palm Sunday is a day of celebration and preparation and that it was, at best, improper to focus on the coming suffering instead of the cries of “Hosanna.” The response was that “not as many people are going to be in church on Wednesday or Thursday to hear the Passion and to consider the betrayal and crucifixion, so they do it on Sunday.” I still disagree.
Pastors and/or church leaders out there – save the pain, blood, and betrayal for later in the week. Palm Sunday should be a wonderful day for Christians.