Palm Sunday commemorates the entrance of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem during which palm branches were placed in His path, before His arrest on Holy Thursday and His crucifixion on Good Friday. It thus marks the beginning of Holy Week, the final week of Lent. BETTY AMUKPO’s conversation with some children gives more insights into why Catholics celebrate Palm Sunday. Excerpts:
‘Palm Sunday casts one’s mind back to the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem’
Catholics celebrate Palm Sunday because it is the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, which means the high point of His earthly ministry. Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1- 11, Luke 19:28-44 and John 12: 12-24 are good references. The palm branches symbolised goodness, triumph, and victory (Rev 7:9). So, the fact that the people laid down the palm branches in front of Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem shows us that His journey to the cross and resurrection was a journey of victory.
• Olayemi David
‘It also is called Passion Sunday because the Gospel narrative of Jesus’ passion is read on this Sunday’
Palm Sunday recalls the story in Christian Scripture of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, greeted by people waving palm branches. It is a reminder for Christians to welcome Jesus into their hearts and to be willing to follow him. Catholics celebrate Palm Sunday because it comes from the fact that it honours Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem, where the people carried palm branches. It is also called Passion Sunday, because the Gospel narrative of Jesus’ passion is read on this Sunday. John 12:13. “They took branches of palm trees and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
• Victoria Okefe
‘It’s a period whereby Christians accept Jesus and surrender totally to Him’
Palm Sunday reminds the Catholic to welcome Jesus in his or her heart. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week and final week of Lent. Christians are encouraged to be holy as Christ is holy. It is a period whereby Christians accept Jesus and surrender totally to Him. Palm Sunday commemorates the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-9). Catholics celebrate Palm Sunday because it is the supreme redemptive sacrifice Christ was entering the city to fulfill His passion and resurrection in Jerusalem. The faithful on Palm Sunday carry palm branches into the Church as they sing unto the Lord.
• Anita Chima
‘Palm Sunday marks the start of Holy Week’
Palm Sunday is celebrated by Catholics on the Sunday before Easter each year and marks the start of Holy Week. Palm Sunday recalls the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, greeted by people waving palm branches. It is a reminder for Christians to welcome Jesus into their hearts and to be willing to follow him (Matt 21:7-9). The priest blesses the palms and distributes them to the congregation, and they are used in a procession through the Church, recalling Christ’s entry into Jerusalem. The palms are either kept and used as a reminder of Christ’s victory throughout the year, or are burned and used as the ashes for the next year’s Ash Wednesday. Hosanna in the highest!
• Benedict Oluwakomi
‘Proclaiming “Hosanna,” Catholics recognise Jesus as the Messiah and king’
Palm Sunday is celebrated by Catholics to commemorate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, fulfilling the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9. By waving palm branches and proclaiming “Hosanna”, Catholics recognise Jesus as the Messiah and king. This event marks the beginning of Holy Week, leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection (Matthew 21:1-11).
• Arnold Akalezi
‘The palm branches are symbol of victory and peace”
Palm Sunday is celebrated by Catholics to commemorate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, as described in the Bible. The Bible describes how Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, and people laid palm branches on His path as He passed. This event is commemorated on Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter. According to the Bible, the people who laid palm branches in Jesus’ path were excited to welcome him as the Messiah, the promised saviour of Israel. The palm branches are symbol of victory and peace. In some Churches, palm branches are still distributed on Palm Sunday as a reminder of this event. They are often used in worship services and processions, and some people choose to keep them as a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection. So, Palm Sunday is a significant day in the Christian calendar, commemorating Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the start of Holy Week. In the Bible, the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is described in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The specific verses that describe this event are Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-40, and John 12:12-19. These verses describe how Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and how the people welcomed Him by waving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna!” Matthew 21:1-11 says: “As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and at once, you will find a donkey tied there, and a colt with her; loose them, and bring them unto me.’
• Blossom Akalezi
‘It is a day to tell the world that Jesus is the King of the Universe’
On Palm Sunday, Catholics remember Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem before His passion and death. According to John12:13, they took branches of palm trees and went forth to meet Him, and cried, Hosanna!!! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!!! It is also a day to tell the world that Jesus is the King of the Universe.
• Umennadi Francis Chibunna
‘Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem highlights his role as a humble and yet victorious king’
Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter on which Christ’s entry into Jerusalem is celebrated in many Christian Churches by processions in which branches of palms are carried. John 12:12-19 says, “They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting “Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, blessed is the King of Israel.” Palm Sunday is also called triumphant entry into Jerusalem; the day Jesus entered into Jerusalem. It is the day Jesus entered into Jerusalem on a donkey and people carried palm branches on His path to greet Him as a king. The palm branch is a symbol of victory, triumph, peace and eternal life. Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem highlights His role as a humble and yet victorious king who brings peace and salvation. Catholics celebrate Palm Sunday because:
• Palm Sunday recalls the story in Christian scripture of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem greeted by people waving the palm branches.
• It is a reminder for Christians to welcome Jesus into their hearts and to willingly follow him.
The message of Palm Sunday to Catholics are to walk with our Lord, witness all He accomplished, receive His body and blood, sacrificed on the cross and memorised the Eucharist, and are resurrected with Him on the third day. When we do all these, we pilgrimage with our Lord to the eternal city of heaven. Peace be with us all. Happy Palm Sunday!
• Anyasor Raphael Chibuike
‘It is a reminder for Christians to welcome Jesus into their hearts’
Palm Sunday recalls the story in Christian scripture of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, greeted by people waving palm branches. It is a reminder for Christians to welcome Jesus into their hearts and be willing to follow Him.
• Ojimmadu Sandra
