Today is Palm Sunday. It is a Christian moveable feast that is observed on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem as a king.

Palm Sunday has Biblical basis and symbolism. For instance, in the accounts of the four canonical gospels, Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem takes place a week before His resurrection. Only the Gospel of John shows a timeline of the event, dated six days before the Passover.

Christian theologians believe that the symbolism is captured prophetically in the book of Zechariah chapter 9, verse 9, which says: “The coming of Zion’s King-see, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey”, which is quoted in the Gospels.

According to the Gospels, Jesus Christ Rode on a donkey into Jerusalem, and the celebrating people there laid down their cloaks and small branches of trees in front of Him, singing part of Psalm 118, verses 25 and 26 – ‘‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord’’.

The symbolism of the Donkey may refer to the Eastern tradition that it is an animal of peace, unlike the horse, which is the animal of war. A king would have ridden a horse when he was bent on war and ride on a donkey to symbolize his arrival in peace. Jesus entry to Jerusalem, therefore, would have thus symbolized his entry as the Prince of Peace, not as a war-waging king.

In Luke chapter 19, verse 41, as Jesus approaches Jerusalem; He looks at the city and weeps over it, foretelling His coming passion and the suffering that awaits the city in the events of the destruction of the second temple.

In the Greco-Roman culture of the Roman Empire, which strongly influenced Christian tradition, the palm branch was a symbol of triumph and victory. Palm Sunday is one of the twelve Great Feasts of the liturgical year. In ancient times, palm branches symbolized goodness and victory. They were often depicted on coins and important buildings.

Palm Sunday, therefore, commemorates the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem when palm branches were placed on His path, before His arrest on Holy Thursday and crucifixion on Good Friday. It thus marks the beginning of the Holy Week, the final week of lent.

Palm Sunday is a major Christian feast and one of the most important in the Christian calendar as it marks both the start of the Holy Week and the last week of lent. We should, therefore, celebrate the Palm Sunday to honour the victorious entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. This is a joyful, special occasion for the followers of the Messiah.

Therefore, in this Holy week, may God direct our thoughts and attention towards what matters most, Jesus Christ our King. Let us choose to focus on worshiping the Lord, thanking Him for the gift of His sacrifice, celebrating the power of Resurrection, and the new life found in Him alone.

On the other hand, Christians and non-Christians alike should use the period of this year’s Palm Sunday to pray for Divine intervention in the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic across the globe. It is only God, not Man, can save us from the COVID-19 pandemic.

May the peace of the Lord which passes all human understanding continue to be with us now and forever more-Amen. Happy Palm Sunday!

WRITTEN BY VEN. CHUKWUMA ORANYE

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