Palm Sunday: Ancient Practices in our Modern World
Happy Palm Sunday!
This Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week and is a time to remember Jesus' triumphant arrival in Jerusalem. It's also a time of preparation for Easter, which is right around the corner.
Palm Sunday is significant for two reasons: it marks the beginning of Jesus' last week on Earth and the day He arrived in Jerusalem to fulfill His destiny.
The Bible tells us that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey—as prophesied in Isaiah—with others laying their cloaks and palm branches before Him, proclaiming Him as King (Matthew 21:1-11). The people shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"
One day later, He would celebrate Passover with His disciples, instituting what we call Communion today. He'd be crucified just five days later.
Palm Sunday is one of the most solemn days in the Christian calendar. The name Palm Sunday comes from the tradition of waving palm branches to welcome Jesus Christ as he entered Jerusalem.
In many Christian traditions, today marks the start of Holy Week, a range of religious observances leading up to Easter. The church bells are not rung today. Instead, the Easter candle is lit. Many churches hold processions where they reenact Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem. Most times, these processions are held outdoors with people carrying palm leaves or branches and singing hymns. Some churches also read from the Passion gospels, which recount Jesus' arrest, trial, and crucifixion.
Other traditions observed on Palm Sunday include the following:
Reading from the Old Testament: Many churches read from Isaiah 50:4–7 during Palm Sunday services. This passage speaks of God's will for his people.
The Blessing of Palms: The Blessing of Palms is a tradition that dates back centuries to when people in Jerusalem waved palm leaves to welcome Jesus into their city as he rode on a donkey. Today, many churches distribute small palm fronds or crosses made from palm leaves to congregants at church services held on Palm Sunday. These symbols remind Christians about Jesus' death, which paved a path for salvation for humankind.
Hosanna: this is a song or prayer that praises Jesus Christ for his entry into Jerusalem as King. On Palm Sunday many churches hold "hosanna services," which are services of worship that focus especially on Jesus' entry into Jerusalem (rather than his crucifixion). These services often include meditations on Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and may also include presentations like "passion plays" (dramas about Jesus' passion). In some places, a special performance of a passion play, which tells the story of Jesus' death and resurrection.
Adorning doors and windows with palm fronds: Many people choose to plant their palms in the ground to mark the beginning of spring. If planted in an area with lots of sunlight, these palms may even flower!
Palm crosses: After the service, many people take the blessed palms home and use them to make crosses that they hang in their homes or workplaces, where they can serve as reminders of Jesus' triumphal entry and also be used to ask for God's protection.
Benediction: If branches are used instead of palm, they may be burned after the service to make ashes for Ash Wednesday. Some churches save their palms from year to year and burn them at this time as well.
Today Palm Sunday is still a mixture of the old and the new, with some church leaders using donkey and others carriages as they follow Jesus toward Jerusalem. Some of our customs are symbolic, such as ashes on the forehead, while others are remnants of the ancient rituals and practices associated with this traditional day. Whatever your tradition may include, enjoy Palm Sunday and know that you are taking part in an event that has been observed for millennia.
One of my most favorite things about Palm Sunday is how we get to set aside the irony and sarcasm that is so much a part of our modern world, and actually enter into the spirit of an ancient practice. The term Palm Sunday is one that is synonymous with the Christian faith. That said, many do not know that it has its roots in the ancient religious practices of ancient civilizations. It's fascinating to learn about and compare these ancient, solemn practices to our modern day celebrations all around us.
Jesus told us to remember Him at this time every year by entering into the week to come with joy and enthusiasm, no matter what we may face – and that promise gave me strength when I needed it most. In many ways, Palm Sunday has become the beginning of my new year – a fresh start – and I think it will hold even more meaning for me from this point forward.
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